Publisher Application Newsletter Btrujillo

Volume 1, Issue 1

March 22, 2019

Farming Simulator Monthly B O V E R V I E W A N D N E W S

L

A

I

K

F a n t a s y

•

These games are considered satisfactory supplements for the popular farming simulator Harvest Moon.

•

They have all been featured on The Game of Nerds website and written by Blaike Trujillo.

•

They are all personal opinion pieces.

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Castaway Paradise

2

Garden Paws

3

Yonder

4

Farm Folks

5

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

6

Graveyard Keeper

7

Closing Thoughts

8

E

T

R

U

J

I

L

L

F a r m i n g :

Back in 2000 there were over 2,166,780 farms in America which has declined at a steady rate. As of 2017 there were over 2,048,000 farms. With the weakening of the farming community, it’s up to us gamers to fill the void. Over the past few weeks I have showcased several indie farming simulators and this week is no different. I’d like to welcome you to Fantasy Farming: Orange Season demo.

The Fantasy Farming: Orange Season demo has many elements one would expect in a farming RPG, the growing of crops, taking care of animals, and town exploration. However, there are several elements that surprised me in the most delightful way. The marriage system has more spouses than one could ever ask for, rival marriages, mini games, and festivals inspired from events celebrated around the world. Gamers can also invite a villager to hang out with them while they go about their day, as a work-date experience. The aspect that I am most intrigued by is the rival marriages, I remember this in Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town and Harvest Moon: More Friends

O

O r a n g e

of Mineral Town. The idea that I can influence who an NPC marries is exciting and I hope that if I marry someone’s potential spouse, they aren’t out of luck.

S e a s o n

become an alien with blue hair. After naming my future dog, Bayge, and farm, A Shrine Atop A Hill, the tutorial begun. I was pleasantly surprised that it was sort and full of humor. The Mayor and her brother gave me the basics of what to do, controls and whatnot, without overloading me with information. I often feel games have either too many moving parts in their tutorials or not enough however, this was perfect.

Orange Season title screen

For you modders, you’ll be interested in the fact that Fantasy Farming: Orange Season is completely open code. The developers, Hudell Tales, encourages total customization of their product and hope to see what inventive mods people can create. This is not something I have come across and thought it was a fascinating addition. With all these different features, how could I not give it a try? After the quick download off Steam I was thrusted into the create a character page and was impressed by all the options. Several different skin tones and hair colors, of course I had to

After growing some turnips and meeting potential love interests, I was hooked. Fantasy Farming: Orange Season is the perfect blend of classic Harvest Moon and modern gameplay. I highly recommend anyone that loves causal gaming to give Hudell Tales a try, the demo is free and it’s a really great game. Overall, while real farming in America may be declining, virtual farming is on the rise. In the end, these games may inspire the next generation of gamers to grab their cheap hoe and start tilling their own little plot of land.

P a g e

2

F a r m i n g

S i m u l a t or

M o n t h l y

C a s t a w a y P a r a d i s e i s H a r v e s t M o o n a n d A n i m a l C r o s s i n g s ' L o v e C h i l d Animal Crossing is a game like no other, it has captivated audiences young and old for nearly 20 years. Whether it’s the casual gaming style or the unique characters, gamers flock to any game that resembles the classics we all know and love. Needless to say, when I found Castaway Paradise on the Google Play store, I was intrigued. I have been on a real mobile game kick these last few weeks, I felt that I never really gave them a chance. Now

“Castaway Paradise does rip -off aspects of Animal Crossing”

that I am at university (Go Sun Devils?!) I find myself with more free time in between classes and course overload. To pass the time I meander on Reddit and Google Play giggling to myself at the ridiculous things people have created until I find a diamond in the rough. After nearly an hour of searching I found the one, Castaway Paradise. Castaway Paradise is a sandbox simulator with point and click capabilities found on IOS, Google Play, Mac Store,

eyes were eager for a chance to get in on the action. After the painfully slow download was completed, I found myself on an island covered in seaweed. My ship had been wrecked during a storm and I was now forced to live in this humble village. Greeted by Mayor Viktoria, she cleaned me up and gave me a modest tent that she assured me

game, characters have a fun blocky appearance while the land is vibrant and colorful. The only complaint I have is that the grass looks exactly like a lightened version of Animal Crossing and when fishing, the shadows do as well. The game is unique and fun on its own, I feel they didn’t need to take these elements from previously celebrated games. Otherwise,

and Steam. It boasts a Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing vibe with a dash of island flare. Gamers can engage in a variety of activities including bug hunting, fishing, farming, quests, and customizing their characters. There are over 1,500 items to decorate the island with and hundreds of quests to complete, players will never find a dull moment. It is also hinted that players can trade with friends, does that mean multiplayer? Castaway Paradise couldn’t download fast enough; my greedy

could be upgraded in the future. I grew corn for the town chef Gustave, went fishing with the aviator named Amelia, and got bullied by the construction manager Angus. I was having a blast watering random plants and pulling weeds, it was a total Animal Crossing meets Harvest Moon experience. I really felt that their promise was delivered,

Castaway Paradise is the perfect love child between two of my favorite games. Castaway Paradise is the perfect blend of Harvest Moon meets Animal Crossing. The quests are inimitable, the storyline is interesting, and the characters are adorable. Aside from the landscape ripoffs, I feel that while elements from the previously mentioned games are there,

Characters from Castaway

Paradise

which is rare in games like this. The music in Castaway Paradise is fun and light-hearted with flutes playing the stereotypical island music. It reminded me of summer, which is desperately calling my name, and even as I type this I have it playing in the background. The graphics are pretty stellar considering it’s a mobile

Castaway Paradise is still one of a kind. It gave me hope for mobile games of the future, and I am interested to see what other games Stolen Couch Games have created.

Amelia likes to fish and fly her plane.

V o l u m e

1 ,

I ss u e

L o v e

1

P a g e

C r e a t e d F a r m i n g S i m u l a t o r S e n s a t i o n G a r d e n P a w s

Enjoy crisp graphics

different color patterns and accessories. When I found out it was a farming simulator, like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, I was hooked. All things farming excite me and I knew I had to give the demo a go. While I personally had a rough start with the controls, I’m terrible at using any keyboard key that doesn’t have an arrow, it was easy to pick up. The animation was just as great as it was in the snapshots and I found myself ogling over the landscape. The cartoonish

They say the body has crazy responses to stimuli. One being, if an object is too adorable humans want to squeeze them to death. Don’t believe me? Check out what National Geographic has to say on the matter. Either way, Bitten Toast Games Inc., has created a slew of characters so cute I could squeeze them to death in “Garden Paws”.

ing, fishing, mining, exploration, and combat. In addition to running the family business, a quaint shop. This is the best way to earn coins and help your fellow citizens build up the town. According to the Garden Paws’ website players can sell anything from flowers to poop. How the poop is collected is beyond me, but the idea is highly intriguing.

Your character’s grandparents have finally retired and left you their farm! Take your adorable character on the journey of a lifetime filled with, farm-

The aspect of Garden Paws that really peaked my interest was the customization of the character. One can play as a bear, a bunny, or a kitty with several

realism was stunning, and I often led my sweet bear running toward the trees. This combined with the tranquil music and the adorable conversations I encountered, made for a riveting experience. Overall, the demo had me hungry for more, and I am excited to see what the finished product has in store. After looking over the press page there was one final thing about Garden Paws that made my heart melt. The creators Daniel Snd and Kristina Van-

dale are a couple and created Garden Paws as a game to play with each other. If that isn’t the sweetest thing ever, I don’t know what is. Garden Paws allows for up to three additional players which is definitely something that lacks in other farming simulators. Overall, the love and detail that Snd and Vandale put into Garden Paws is apparent and I encourage anyone who loves a good farming simulator to check out their Kickstarter and see it for themselves.

“Garden Paws was created by a husband and wife that enjoy gaming together.”

Snazzy clothing options

Garden Paws can lead to amazing adventures

3

P a g e

4

F a r m i n g

S i m u l a t or

E m b r a c e y o u r C u r i o s i t y i n Y o n d e r : C l o u d C a t c h e r C h r o n i c l e s Stephen Hawking once said, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious”. Not many aspects of life instill a sense of mystic and wonder that designates deep within us, let alone a video game. Sure, we may find ourselves in an adventurous state every now and again but unless something really clicks, it doesn’t stick. I found myself enthralled with

“Stay curious my friends.”

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and I highly recommend that anyone reading this, hops aboard the voyager train with me. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a game that follows a sea explorer after their ship was wrecked in a storm. Lost with nothing but their trusty compass, they must set off to make friends and thrive on a strange island full of magic and strange beasts. Sprinkled

I was excited for a different take on my usual farming simulator and saw how adorable the bison-like critters, Groffles, were. However, I instantly hated it. The camera angles killed me, I couldn’t walk straight without having to use my trackpad to switch the angle. This angered me, and I counted it as a loss, never to play it again. That is, until spring break 2019 when I remembered my computer

ra of puzzles to conquer and quests to find. Overall, I am glad I got over myself and embraced the world of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. In the end, Stephen Hawking was right, being curious should remain with us well into adulthood. Prideful Sloth perfectly displays Hawking’s

T h e

throughout this land is quests, fishing, farming, taming of the creatures, and puzzles galore. Animals migrate based on the seasons which are captured in an authentic and eye-catching manner. This causal RPG is stunning and has all the elements a gamer such as me could ask for. To be completely honest, I purchased Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles when it came out on Steam in 2017.

had Xbox controller capabilities. I feel ashamed to admit this never crossed my mind in my state of distress and I thought I’d give Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles another whirl. Oh boy, I am so glad I did. After creating my beautiful blue-haired girl I was quickly working through events that gave me problems my first go around, I could walk around

words in everything they created within Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. The beautiful graphics, cheery music, and unique characters just barely scratch the surface. These are the superficial aspects, while the deep storyline conveys a message we should all hold near and dear to our hearts. Stay curious.

M o n t h l y

Groffles roam free all throughout Yonder

without ripping my hair out and I fell in love. The graphics are crisp and colorful in what can only be described as an animated reality, meaning I wish the world looked like the land of Gemea. I met countless villagers, befriended several mythical creatures, and began the journey to find my character’s roots all with the help of the goddess Aaerie. Hours were spent on this game and I still have a pletho-

The Yonder logo

V o l u m e

1 ,

I ss u e

D r o p

1

P a g e

Y o u r

Farm Folks logo

S i c k l e s , I t ’ s T i m e F a r m F o l k s ! When I started my gaming career I was about six-years-old. I started off playing Yoshi’s Story and would eventually move on to more challenging titles such as the God of War series and Dante’s Inferno. However, no matter how old I get, I always have a soft spot in my heart for Harvest Moon and other games like it. Therefore, when I was perusing Kickstarter, I stopped in my tracks when my eyes laid upon Farm Folks. Since the birth of Stardew Valley, I

If Zelda Wind Waker and Harvest Moon: Light of Hope had a love child, it would be this game. The graphics are fun and animated without losing its integrity, while the music is whimsical and childlike. The trailer began with happy sheep bleating in the distance and allowed viewers to really get a taste for what Farm Folks is all about. There was farming, animal raising, mining, fishing, and making friends with the locals. All while the seasons

changed from a bright happy summer, to a silent yet beautiful snowy winter.

look forward to seeing the finished product and desperately hope the fishing aspect is easier than in Stardew Valley. The one aspect I am looking forward to the most? Two words, unicorn cows. I mean look at them, they are the cutest things in the galaxy. Overall, farmers everywhere will lay down their sickles and pick up a controller to play Farm Folks.

able to enjoy Farm Folks on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo upon completion of the game if enough funds are generated.

Farmers everywhere will be

One complaint that is often made of games like Farm Folks is the lack of customization of the character. However, fear not because not only can you change the character’s clothing, that does look eerily similar to a Hero’s Tunic, but also the hair color and style as well. Another amazing addition is the sheer number of in-

t o

P l a y

have uncovered a plethora of different farming simulators, but not all of them have been as intriguing as Farm Folks. The story is reminiscent of other titles like it although there is a few twists. The farmer’s brother gifts them a boat and they ship off leaving their old life behind, when a terrible storm leaves them shipwrecked on Softshoal Island. The comically fashion forward Mayor Snodgrass gives the farmer a parcel of land and the journey of a lifetime truly begins.

game holidays boasted in the Kickstarter. Each holiday comes with its own set of traditions that fellow villagers enjoy thoroughly. Finally, our beloved farmer will also be able to find an individual to share the rest of their life with, which is always the best part of any farming simulator. As far as I am concerned, every farming simulator deserves a special place in my heart and Farm Folks is no exception. I

“Farm Folks is the marriage between Zelda Wind Waker and Harvest Moon.”

Unicorn Cows are adorable

5

P a g e

6

F a r m i n g

A S i d e O p i n i o n Natsume first stole gamers hearts in 1996 after releasing Harvest Moon on the Super Nintendo. The year is now 2017 and Natsume is back at it again with Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (HMLOH) which was released via Steam on November 14th. This is the first Harvest Moon title available on PC and enthusiasts were hopeful for a classic product. However, many fans were thrown into a pit of despair after realizing HMLOH con-

“Graphics aren’t everything.”

S i m u l a t or

M o n t h l y

P o n y - t a i l a n d U n p o p u l a r o n H a r v e s t M o o n : L i g h t o f H o p e sisted of three-dimensional characters in a twodimensional world. The graphics are a marriage between Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town and Tree of Tranquility which I will admit, is an odd combination. Nevertheless, my unpopular opinion is that I do in fact adore the new addition to the Harvest Moon line. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope begins with a harsh storm with the main character

dazed and confused. This leads to the player receiving their farm and learning the basics behind cultivating crops. The one major downside I found whilst play was the inability to use arrow keys to move around. While one can play via Xbox controller, I wanted to attempt to play Meeting your neighbors can be hard organically. I found myself hoeing every patch of ground I came across reducing my ability to move around swiftly. However, the classic music

playing in the background washed away my anger and transported me to times of old.

the games I played as a child. These graphics aren’t typical of the series, but I found them to be a refreshing change.

While many players are put off by the graphics, I found them to be quite interesting. I enjoyed the threedimensional Harvest Sprites and being able to enjoy my female character’s side ponytail. I also liked the background being reminiscent of

Overall, I love Harvest Moon: Light of Hope and look forward to logging in countless hours milking cows and hoeing the land. I happily await the chance of finding true love and allowing my farm to flourish. My main mission? To find my savior with the purple

hair. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is a refreshing take on a well-loved classic.

← Harvest Moon: Light of Hope logo

Meet sprites

V o l u m e

1 ,

I ss u e

1

P a g e

G r a v e y a r d

K e e p e r D i s t u r b i n g R o m a n c e I won’t compare it to Stardew Valley, it’s over done and quite frankly inaccurate. While the design style is similar, the basic premise is completely different. I do love a pixelated farming simulation, but Graveyard Keeper is more complex than that.

Graveyard Keeper logo

the design of Graveyard Keeper is fantastic and leaves the player wanting to explore deeper into this medieval world. The game starts out with a man torn apart from the woman he loves and his desperation to get back to her. He is then transported into time of old where he learns that he is the new town graveyard keeper. His new job entails preforming autopsies, digging the

“Graveyard Keeper can’t be compared to Stardew Valley.”

I had been anticipating the launch of Graveyard Keeper for several weeks. When I finally received the alpha release email, I couldn’t get my pocketbook out quick enough. Graveyard Keeper had been circulating around graves, and maintaining the overall appearance of the graveyard. A charming donkey drops off the deceased and a loveable talking skull shows him the ropes. The player will run into many charming characters such as a blacksmith, bar keep, an actor, and an astronomer. There are many highs within the land of Graveyard Keeper but there are a few lows as well. I found myself running

7

M e e t s

Stardew Valley Facebook groups and I was expecting a macabre farming simulation. However, what I got was far superior than anything I ever could have imagined. Graveyard Keeper elegantly mashes an epic love story, dangerous quests, surgical precision and light farming into a perfectly painted package. The art is simple yet deliberate, care was taken in creating each flower and blending the grass, so it didn’t look like an over pixelated mess. Overall,

out of time with each day. Each action depleted a health bar and early in the game I found myself needing to sleep often to replenish it. I started a vicious cycle in which I’d work with a body, sleep, and repeat. This left little time for other quests and attempting to maintain my graveyard. However, despite this I played for about six hours the day I purchased the alpha. Needless to say, it’s terribly addicting.

Overall, Graveyard Keeper is a moving love story jam packed with death and gore leaving players excited for the future. The official release is August 15th, 2018 and will be available on PC and Xbox One. I look forward to throwing many more bodies in the river and seeing what all Graveyard Keeper has to offer.

Even the locals aren’t impressed

Life as an undertaker never makes sense

THEGAMEOFNERDS.COM

B L A I K E

T R U J I L L O

I am a blogger for The Game of Nerds. Each

Game of Nerds Writer

week I upload an article, usually video game related, and wait for people to click on it. All

“Where there is no shame in having an unhealthy obsession with a fandom”

these articles are mine, further distribution or duplication is prohibited.

C l o s i n g Each week I scramble to get my work done and often procrastinate. Sometimes writing for a blog, for free mind you, can be daunting. With deadlines being Fridays, most of the time I just want to sleep but I must say, I have met some fine people along the way. Covering cons and weird “nerdy” events around Arizona has been fun and I adore it. My favorite thing is emailing a creator and gushing to them about how great their game is. I love to hear the excitement in the words they type, the feeling of accomplishment, being able to tell someone their hard work was worth it. Deadlines may be exhausting, but bringing a community together is completely

T h o u g h t s

worth it. Overall, it was fun to go through and see old article and see how much I have progressed. Towards the front of the newsletter are newer articles, they were easier to find, and towards the end are early works. Sure, I’m no Stephen King or Agatha Christie, but I have fun and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters. In the end, I look forward to many more years of meeting interesting people, searching for new content, and waiting for people to click on it.

The Game of Nerds logo