64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64

[Deme]

So, I'm going on another trip until about the 11th or so (I said 10th in another thread, but then I remembered the timing involved) I'll have internet access, but not access to the computer I use for Harvest Moon and Azure Dreams...And I don't have a full chapter's worth of material ready. I'll bring my cast pictures so I can work on that, though.

So in the meanwhile, I think I'll try something that a nearby LP did and see if it helps keep this alive: Ask the Characters! Ask any character any question, and provided it's one I don't intend on answering via story or it's minor enough that I'll let it slide, they'll answer it for you here!

[Mewtarthio]

This question is for the lovely young lady who works in the library:

Truth or Dare?

[Deme]

"...U-u-um...T-truth?"

[Mewtarthio]

"...U-u-um...T-truth?"

What's the most embarassing thing you've ever done?

[Deme]

"...T-that I've done? I-I try to avoid doing emberassing things...I tried dancing like Karen does once; I fell on my face and cracked my glasses. I'm so glad no one was watching!"

[Trobby]

Karen: So how DO you dance?

[Selpharia]

Ooh, I love these kinds of things. Let's do something a little unexpected.

Mr. Mayor, what do you believe is the most pressing issue facing our town today and how do you plan on resolving it?

Elli, which is better, Cake or Pie?

Maria, was Charles Dickens or Victor Hugo the more adept at portraying and protesting the social ills of their day?

[Deme]

Karen: So how DO you dance?

"I do a lot of different dancing -- my mom used to be called the Queen of Dance, and she taught me a few different styles; I can do some ballet, for example, but I guess I like a looser style. It's something really special to me -- you just let everything go, and all your feelings flow through your body."

Mr. Mayor, what do you believe is the most pressing issue facing our town today and how do you plan on resolving it?

"The town's biggest problem is the dissolution of the community: we're all...well, we're all fine people, but we don't get a lot of young people, and many of the youths grown here want to move away. My only hope is to make the town into a fun and vibrant community through its festivals, to try and attract outside attention and to encourage the young people to value their heritage!"

Elli, which is better, Cake or Pie?

"I like them both, but a light and airy cake, maybe with a strawberry filling from the local crops and a whip-cream based icing to keep the whole thing delicate and melting in your mouth <3... A pie's just so much easier to resist."

Maria, wasr Charles Dickens or Victor Hugo the more adept at portraying and protesting the social ills of their day?

"Well...*Looks nervous* I prefer Hugo in a lot of ways... I mean, if you think Dickens does a better job, I mean no offense, but I always found him a little ... S-shallow?"

[Lycan 01]

Maria: Favorite literary genre?

Rick: Tesla or Edison?

Forest sprite: An-cay I ave-hay your at-hay?

[Deme]

Maria: Favorite literary genre?

"I like to read fantasy stories...But I'm also really interested in children's literature as an art form; I think really pushing the imagination is a wonderful thing."

Rick: Tesla or Edison?

"Who wouldn't pick Tesla?"

Forest sprite: An-cay I ave-hay your at-hay?

"....No....We on't-day ust-tray ange-stray uman-hay eing-bays."

[Lycan 01]

"I like to read fantasy stories...But I'm also really interested in children's literature as an art form; I think really pushing the imagination is a wonderful thing."

Do you do any creative writing yourself?

"Who wouldn't pick Tesla?"

Edison.

"....No....We on't-day ust-tray ange-stray uman-hay eing-bays."

Air-fay nough-eay. No ard-hay eeling-fays.

[Trobby]

Here's one for The Fantastic Mister Fox: Are you missing anything about city life?

[Deme]

Do you do any creative writing yourself?

Actually, that's going to come up, so I don't have to answer that.

Edison.

"Oops. Sorry aout that. Well, to each their own, I suppose. I see Edison as being at heart more practical... And I think if I really worried about the practical, I'd be a different sort of person."

Air-fay nough-eay. No ard-hay eeling-fays.

"*nods shyly*"

Here's one for The Fantastic Mister Fox: Are you missing anything about city life?

Fox: "Reliable Indoor Plumbing. Completely. I mean, I know we live in a schizotech world, but come on, people!"

[Lycan 01]

"Oops. Sorry aout that. Well, to each their own, I suppose. I see Edison as being at heart more practical... And I think if I really worried about the practical, I'd be a different sort of person."

Oh no, I personally prefer Tesla myself. I was just saying that Edison is somebody who wouldn't prefer Tesla.

[Deme]

"Oh, I see. You're right on that one, hah hah."

[Deme]

I have updated the cast list, excepting people we've only seen in the prologue and Fox's dad. Happy Father's day!

[Seerow]

Tagging this topic. I never played any harvest moon game, so I'm enjoying this so far.

[Trazoi]

Spoiler

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Popuri
The daughter of the flower shop, Popuri loves every bright and growing things. She's a little spacey, but she's sweet and energetic. She's a little childish, especially when you try and point that out. She waters the sidewalk often, a mysterious ritual with unknown purpose.

Bwaa! *holds up cross* Away with you!

[Deme]

I may leave character Q&A open, if anyone comes up with stuff I want to answer.

Chapter 3: I Can't Believe It's Not Rain! Your Prefferered Rain Substitute

Spoiler

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Friday - Spring - 5 - XXX1

It's another day in the neighborhood. Another most-likely very long day...
But I really haven't been doing things all that well. For one thing, I need to check the weather. After all, the crops need tending and stuff.

The network selection is the most pathetic -- the TV gets about 4 channels, but one of them's busted. The other's an educational program, and there's the news.
Anyway, it looks like rain.

It looks like rain because it is rain.


The news says we have a few festivals: The "planting" festival on the 8th, the horse race on the 17th, and the Flower Festival -- an appropriately Spring-y sounding thing -- on the 23rd. I'll mark them on my calender.



The educational show is the little brother and the big sister talking about farm life. Today's chickens, but they kind of imply that there's a problem they refuse to tell you how to solve.


And the fourth channel is static. I will believe it is porn. I think I can see a leg. If I turn my head a little.

Given how late my nights have been getting, I think I'll do some chores in the morning.

I water the crops and am done around 9. I'm actually pretty tired from all these late nights... All the better reason to get my life together.


Hey, the little elf is back! I didn't dream him!


"Hey there. So...Ummm... Were you here a couple of years ago?"
"Es-yay. We ave-bay een-bay...ummm...Here..." This is clearly taxing his vocabulary. I interrupt him.
"We?"
He gestures to a little indent in the cave wall. If I crouch, I can reach it.

"So there are more of you? I'll have to check that out." Another day, though. I'm burning daylight.

He nods. I grab my herbs and go.

Wait. He understood my question just fine! I think someone is being trolled here...Or, should I say, elfed here.


Wait. Is that Karen? I don't think I've seen her anywhere but the vineyard and the bar...
She's standing there, and...Her shoulders are shaking, her head dipped down between them. At the sound of my footsteps, she covers her face with her arms.
"Are you OK?" I know the answer before I say the question, but it's just... I dunno. Manners.

She tries to laugh it off, but she hasn't hidden it well.
"Like I wouldn't be OK? You don't have to worry about me, OK, out-of-towner?"
"I think it's only human to worry about someone, right, tough girl?" Two can play at that game.
She laughs, which just makes fresh tears form at the corners of her eyes.
"That's your best nickname?...But really. This isn't anything important."
"Just stupid family stuff?"
She starts and stares at me.
"I...I know the type of thing. Don't let them get you down, tough-girl."
"...Ha."
She smiles, bitterly, and waves me on my way.

After getting a daily load-up, I head to the bakery. Elli and I just make small-talk; nothing terribly special there...
But I do run into Maria's mom.

I'm reminded of Dad and I's bet.
"No, I'll be running the farm, so I can't just leave."

"...such a young man. Work hard and good luck!"
"Uh, thanks."
One day, people will stop wishing me luck. Maybe when I stop feeling like I need it so much.

I don't see Popuri around town today. Oh, well.
I do, however, buy some turnips and cabbages. Really, I just run around town making small talk. When you put it like that, it makes my life sound kind of petty.


"I'm doing alright. Busy trying to get my feet under me, though."
"That's no good! Sometimes you just need to kick your feet out and catch yourself later!"
That's...A lot of enthusiasm.
"I think I already did that, and am now on the catching myself part. This...Is kind of a crazy masochistic father-son bet-challenge thing."
My life, summarized in a single sentence. Now I just need to work on making it sound better. And taking out the word thing.
Ann's face takes on a troubled look.
"So are you working because you want to, or because you have to prove him wrong?"
"...You know... For the first time in my life, it's actually the former." I smile from getting to say that I want to do something. It's a wierd, kind of tingly feeling.
"Then you'll be fine!"
She says, and pats me on the back. I nearly fall over, and she gives me a warm laugh and a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, Ann."


I get home in time to ship some herbs and make a run for some more berries to give to people at the bar.


It looks like it's busy tonight.


"Yeah, pretty hard."
"That good, though! Hard work is good for the soul!"
"Yeah, but not so good for...Everything else. It's better for my wallet than no work, but not as good as stupid work."
"You'll get in the swing of it soon enough, kid."

Anyway, there are some people here I haven't talked to...

"Nice to meetcha, Harris. I'm running that farm." Because that's how everyone refers to it.
"I hope you'll be getting some mail soon so I can see what you're doing with the place."
But you can just...You can just...
"You can just come see!"
"Oh, you're a funny guy. But no -- the schedule just won't allow for it."
...That's... There's someone out there who takes his work schedule seriously....For real?
I do not comprehend.


See, see? That farm! I may as well have just put it down as "That Farm" on the paperwork!
Come to that, I've seen this guy before... But I can't place it. He's just not...Not...
"I'm the bakery's manager."
That's it! He's just not that memorable!
...Oh, and that's where I've seen him. Knew it was something like that.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Please stop by the shop when you're hungry and tired. Our menu is quite refreshing."
Always with the salespitch, these bakery folks...

"Hey, Tough-girl.Feeling better?"

Well, it's good to see our relationship is developing nicely. Not stalling on the rocks of indifference and distaste at all. Ee-yup.

I have a quick word with the barkeep, some water, and I go on my way. I've got work to do, after all...

In the field, I clear a stump and till some of the land for more cabbages...

And I'm getting worn out...But I do water the crops and give Agro a little attention before going in.


And it's that late already...I'm never going to get that book read.

Spring - 6 - XXX1


The morning starts with the sound of rain. The weather lady promises sun tommorow, though.
Like a fool, I run up and fill my backpack with flowers and mountain herbs. I'm absolutely drenched as I enter the flower shop. It's really just more small-talk there.


And I buy some potato seeds, too.


"Yeah, I kind of noticed that myself..."
"Nothing to be concerned about. Your Grandfather was very popular with the ladies when he was younger. It was such a tragedy that he married a girl from outside the town. We were all a little hopeful..."
"That's too much information, ma'am."
"Don't go breaking poor Elli's heart now, young man."
"Graaaaaanny!"
"I'll try my best, Ma'am. If she'll let me."
"Foooox! Stop egging her on like that!"
"Aw, come on now. It's all in good fun." I mean, it's not like I know how not to break a girl's heart, right?
"It's not very fun to get teased like that."
"Alright, alright. No worries. Well, I'm back into the rain."

You know what would be nice? If I could get an umbrella. But nope, I'm running to the library soaking wet.

And there's more than just Maria here today...


"I'm Fox."
"Like the aminal?"
"That's right."
She appears to give that I am named after an animal some serious and profound thought.

"...Can talk to you."
"It's very nice of you to think about that." But just being told a guy's name doesn't really make him a safe guy...
"Did your mom tell you not to talk to strangers?"
The girl shakes her head.

"...Oh. I'm sorry." I was probably about that age when my mom died, so I can imagine what she's feeling...
The girl shakes her head, but doesn't say much more.
"You have a good day, then, May."

"Hey, Maria...I don't think I'll have time to finish that book anytime soon."
"W-well...Ummm...It'd be alright for you to keep it a while longer, I-I guess...Or..." She trails off, looking uneasy. I wait for her to finish. "You could bring it here...And read it when you visit when you have a free minute."
"That sounds good. I'll bring it back tommorow." I smile.

I pass Harris while running through the rain. He nods and I nod past. I'd stop to chat...If the sky wasn't opening up. I think the weathergirl said that it'd rain until tommorow morning.
I head to the Green Ranch, but...

There's nothing in the fields. I guess animals don't like being out in the rain.
Maybe I'll try the barn?
The inside of the barn is musty, all the layers of old smells made damper by the rain. I at least see Mr. Angry Cowboy.

"Hey, you seen Ann?"

"Yeah, yeah....You could at least be civil enough to answer a question."
"...She's in the back."
It spoke!
"Thanks."


"Hey Ann..." Having come here, I have nothing to say. Rats. OK, time for the old playbook... Rule #5: When in doubt, play her game. "I was wondering if there was anything more I could do for Agro."
"Can you afford a brush?"
"...No."
"Then not really. Is his grazing and stuff OK?"
"I guess?"
"You're hopeless. Tell you what, I'll come by sometime and check him out, alright? Don't forget!"
"Alright. I'm not really worried...He seems happy enough. I just want to be sure I'm doing what I can."
"Hey, just keep your chin up, and you'll be fine!"

Since the rain means I'm done so early, I head up to the mountain for a second swing at stuff-gathering...

And clear one last patch on my field for those potatoes. And then it's bar time.


The bar is pretty quiet tonight -- just Karen, her dad, and the barkeep.
"Hey, How's the weather treating you?" I joke, since she can see I'm basically a drowned rat who was left to float downriver and then teleported to some sort of elemental plane of water.

"It just brings everything down. And there's no escaping that guy, either."
She jerks her head back towards her dad.
"I know the feeling."

...Well, I guess I should meet this guy.

"You're just drinking."
"Drinking is busy."
"I'll remember that."
I wish I had the money to be busy right now...


"...music, but sometimes it sounds like a sad voice. It echoes and calls...And sometimes I think I know it well."
"Oh?"
"The rain just makes me a little nostalgic, I guess. In a bar, everyone has troubles...And on a rainy night, I remember them."
"And yours?"
"Maybe."
He smiles and pours me a glass of water. Like there isn't enough water.

I head home...

And plant those potatoes.
I figure I'll plan ahead for the day ahead and get some water in my watering can...
When I notice the big tree in the corner. Something about it feels...Nostalgic. The hollow in the center catches my eye, and I walk over.


"A...treasure map?"
I go inside to unroll it where it's safe from the rain.

The handwriting is scratchy and poorly-managed, with the letters changing sizes. It's a kid's handwriting, that's clear right away...



And it's mine. I remember... I had hidden something away for a girl I knew to find...Who was it?
We arranged all sorts of treasure hunts...
Well, I guess she never found it, so it doesn't matter. Maybe I'll dig it up, see what it was.


But that'll be for another day.

[Trazoi]

The Harvest Moon universe really loves their vegetables. Everything costs or sells for a sack of gold.

What I love about HM64's graphics, due to it being early 3D, is they've gone for the plastic doll look so the world looks like a giant playset. I think it works really well for the sort of game it is.

[Deme]

My only prayer is that 1G is not worth a lot. Because...dang.

Now, I like 64's graphics, but I also admit... I might be totally just drenched in nostalgia there. That, and I'm pretty easy to please with graphics...Well, kind of. But the "giant toybox" is kind of cute for this.

[LoneStarNorth]

My only prayer is that 1G is not worth a lot. Because...dang.

I always used to equate 1G to 1 cent. It makes the prices of things seem relatively believable, but also makes you feel poor as heck. Especially since you start the game with just five bucks in your pocket.

[Seerow]

So if Im understanding this right, a given game lasts 2 years + 1 season, each year is 4 seasons that are 30 days long. So the whole game lasts about 270 game days.

At the rate of 2 days per update, this let's play will be going on... well a very long time.

Do things speed up more towards the middle (ie we've been getting a lot of stuff in relatively little time right now, but later there's not as much interaction, so days can be breezed through faster) or is this something that's intended to take a year or two to go through at this pace? Just curious.

[Deme]

Well, I will say that pacing doesn't concern me too much...And also that it probably will speed up. Right now, everything's fairly new, and so we're pretty close to the wire. I did a sort of quick and dirty "I play every day and moniter my progress" and got days that were just "Waiting for something to happen..."
I can try and fit more days into the updates, if everyone likes...Or shorter but more frequent updates maybe. If I can find time.

[Deme]

Chapter 4: Treasure

Spoiler

Show

Spring - 7 - xxx1


That's my line! The mayor's on my lawn at 6 AM!
"What is it?"


"...the square tomorrow. Join us, if you like."
"...What is the sowing festival?" Are there free seeds in it, perchance?
"All the more reason for you to attend."

He adds with a cheery smile as he goes.



"Sweet! A turnip crop!"
I pick all the turnips before bringing them to the shipping bin. I'm hoping to get a solid string of funds coming in from here -- I even bought a spare bag of seeds from the shop, since it's closed on a sunday.


...But I hold onto one. Just one. I got the feeling...Like I could need it. Call it a hunch.


He's an older guy, so he's probably met me when I was a kid. That sort of thing just follows.
"Well, it's..."

"And you...are..."

Already leaving. Stellar manners, Mr. Man.

Elli's not at the bakery today, so it looks like I'm carrying that flower for dead weight. Great...
But I do say hello to her granny on my way.


"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, for example... You've plunged completely unprepared into a new life, certain you'll be able to face it head-on. At my age, I'm not sure I could change my life. Change, too, is something to envy the young..."
"No, I think a lot of people my age are afraid of changing their lives. The future...looks so big. But I was more afraid of not changing, in the end... Besides... I have at least a little faith.."
"I see...Well, I think there's something to be said for having faith. For the rest of us, there's always Parson Brown."
Oh, yeah...There is a church, isn't there?
"Well, it is Sunday, so maybe I'll check it out."


Apparently only the mayor and his wife need faith. I wonder what they worship here -- the city I'm from didn't really worship anything in particular.
The parson's just finishing up his service here.


"Hey, I was wondering..." I slide around the pews and ask the mayor's wife in a hushed tone. "What happens at the Sowing Festival? No one's saying."
"It must seem a little mysterious to an outsider." She titters behind a gloved hand. "I found it a little odd myself..."


"A king is selected at the Harvest Festival in the fall."
And sacrificed when things go bad in the winter, huh? ...Well, probably not today, but once upon a time, right?

Anyway, it looks like the man in charge is done, so let's introduce ourselves.
"Hi there. I'm Fox."
"Ah, I'm Parson Brown...I've heard a bit about you."


"Thanks..." Always, always... "Say, what is the church for, exactly?"
He directs my gaze to the statue of a woman in the alcove behind him. She's a beautiful young-looking woman in a flowing robe...But I...
As I stare, I realize...That she looks very familiar.
"She's a local goddess of nature and the harvest; most of the locals call her The Harvest Goddess."
He pauses as if expecting me to make a crack. But really, his words are just an atonal drone in the back of my head.
Where did I see...
"A long time ago, she wandered the mountains freely, and attended her own festivals...But it's been a long time. To an outsider, it must seem like our goddess is a lie."
My father thinks all gods are lies at best and frauds at worst, so I can't really compare.
All I know is...
I've seen that woman. She's the goddess I saw when I was a kid, the one that all the psychologists said I wasn't crazy for making up, that answer that always dissapointed my dad.
...Did I really just see the statue here, and think I saw the real thing?

"How did they used to get in touch with her?"
"She had a spring, in the mountains. We used to throw offerings to her, and she would emerge...But we lost track of the spring a long time ago."
"So no one can see her."
"Correct."
What a pity...
"...I don't think she's a fake."
But I don't know what I know.

I head off to the library to read my thoughts away.
...And there's another kid here today, a little boy.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Fox."
"Hey, you run that farm, right Mr. Fox? That's so cool!"
"Please, Kent, don't call me Mister."
"Ok, then how about Bro?"
"...Sure, Bro's fine by me."
"I'll tell my brother that, too. Hey, can I come by and see stuff sometimes?"
"Sure, Kent. Sure."
"Awesome! Farms are so much better than dumb potion shops!"
...I'm not sure I want to know.

"Hey, Maria."
She ducks away. Did I do something wrong?
"Oh, P-please don't come tommorow..."
"Because of the festival?"
"T-that's right...But even if it weren't a festival, you couldn't come."
"And that's because?"

"I see. Thanks for the heads up, Maria. I hope to see you tommorow anyway."


...That is not someone I expected to see here.
"Hey, Popuri. What are you doing all the way out here?"
"Oh, don't worry; I'm not lost."
"That's not what I asked."
"Oh, well, then... Anyway, I like coming out here. The animals are all very friendly, and Gray and Ann are good friends of mine."
"Who?"
She points to...Mr. Angry Cowboy. Who sees us looking at him, meets Popuri's eyes for a moment, and turns stiffly away.
What a weirdo...

I end up going back into the mountain for a second run at shippables...
When I end up going to a quieter stretch of forest than usual.

There, flowers bloom peacefully. Someone once built a little bridge over the stream, but it's kind of falling apart now. It does a good enough job at holding my weight.
...But it's only a bit of a stream, isn't it? The water just bubbles up, as if from the center of the earth, sparkling in the light as it swirls and moves, as a sunbeam moves out from a spring cloud to strike it, turning my vision dazzlingly white with the reflection, the details of the glade lost to the glare.

Everything is still and quiet here, and I can't help but feel like something here's an omen.
"Well, just one test, OK? Just because I have an offering."




...Maybe I did dream her...

Or. Not.
She rises up, leaving a trail of water trickling off her robes -- she's completely dry, but the water sparkles like diamonds as it falls off of her. She's exactly what I rembember, and she greats me with a smile.

"these days, you know that...Fox?"
"...You know my name." Ug. I sound like an idiot. What the heck do you do when you meet a goddess. Do you bow?
"Of course I do, silly! Didn't I tell you -- you and the land are connected. And because you're connected to the land, you're connected to me."
...
"Ummm...I sort of..." 'I sort of wasn't sure if you really existed, except I sort of was. That's wonderfully articulate, Fox. I settle for something goofier. "It's very nice to see you again."
"And you! I was worried you had forgotten me! I'm so happy to see you've grown into a generous young man, to give offerings to a goddess like me <3."
I blush, which only makes her laugh and drape an arm around my shoulder.
"Well, I suppose on this reunion, since you've given me a gift from your own hands, I should give you one, too!"
"You don't really need to..."
"Nonsense! How else will I make sure you stay a..."

I'm not sure spirituality works that way, Miss Goddess...

"...Well, I could use a little help with the girls here. I don't get country girls; they're so pleasant it's hard to read them."
"Well, tell you what! If you finish your treasure hunt, I'll make what you find into a tool...A magical tool to divine their hearts."
"Divine their hearts? That sounds a little...invasive."
"Nothing like that, silly boy <3. You'll just get to understand something special. And its magic will last as long as you need it to. How's that?"
"Well, I'm not sure it's right for me to ask anything from a Goddess, right?"

She shakes her head, almost sadly.
"No, Fox...You are my worshipper, and I am your patron. It's my duty to help you. When you're good to Momma, Momma's good to you, after all <3."
...When did a goddess get to see Chicago?
"...I'll do my best."
"Alright! Your wish will be granted!"


I run and drop some herbs off, and decide to maybe hit the beach for fishing...

When I notice Karen standing by the water.


"Hey. I'm surprised to see you here."
"...The sea is just very pretty. It's not a big deal... But I always feel free, just sitting here by the water."
"Yeah...It's big enough that it feels like you could go on forever."
"...You're sometimes pretty smart, you know that? Just don't let it go to your head...You better get going. It's getting dark."

...I was going to... Oh, nevermind. I do have work to do, after all.

Wow. My money situation's suddenly a lot better.

I do my chores.

I'd "Finish that treasure hunt" if only it weren't so late...
So for tonight, it's time for bed.

Spring - 8 - XXX1

It's a festival day, and I get the impression a festival may take a while... So I get my chores done in the morning.

...And try to finish the treasure hunt. I trace the line of the dog house and the tree with my eye until I hit on a spot on the edge of the field.

This looks likely.
I dig and dig and dig and wonder what past-me's arms were made of...
And I dig up this.


Some 'magical tool.' ...But I bet when I buried it, it worked. Is the hunt not complete until it works?

But first, I need to rush to the square. It's getting late!
By the time I start, ceremonies are underway.

"Please sow the seeds. Good luck."
How much luck does it take to drop stuff from a hot air balloon, really?
Still, it looks like everyone else has balloons, too. I wonder if I'll get a balloon.

"What hard masters."
So that old man runs the potion shop... Seems I'm learning all sorts of things.
"Who are you going to choose for an assistant?"


So this must be Kent's brother he mentioned? They don't look alike.
"No problem. I don't like high places!"
He says that with a big smile that makes me think... He's totally lying. I get the impression that a kid like him thinks high places are totally amazing.



And so the two of them rise up in their big balloon, with the slow grace of a celestial body, like the sun rising. Behind me, Kent waves his hardest. Even I wave.


He comments to me when he sees me there.
"Well, I bet he's really excited, though...I'm actually an only child, so I think it's kind of awesome that you let him go."
"...I'm just doin' what I'm s'possedta..." He muttered, looking away a little shyly. I laugh -- I guess I'm getting mature enough that I find the shyness of a kid being praised a little funny.


"This year, so they'll fly towards the mountains. It'll be a great sight, and the mountain wind will tear all the bags open."
"Bags?"
"You'll see."
Man, everyone's so cryptic about this. Or at least the guys are. I guess what seeds a man sows are his own business, huh? ;p


"It's....adorable?" It's a balloon. But if a girl asks if something's cute, say yes. That's one of my rules.


"Probably not. It's not exactly a practical sort of method, is it?"
"It works fine for dandelions."
"I guess... But I bet even they don't have a lot of sprouts. Just some."
"Even just a few would be nice."

"Sure, sure..." Who would I tell?
"We never have enough mountain walnuts for a pie, so I'd like some improvement one day."
"Well, I guess it's good to plan for tommorow."
"It's what the spring is for, I think. Being ready for a good year."


"It would be nice...But there's never any shortage, is there?"
"N-no, not really... But whether there's a shortage or not, things that make the world a brighter place are good things. What makes a flower good isn't that they're pretty; it's that when a person sees them, and they become happier...That beauty matters."
She stares up at the sky, and I admit...In that moment, maybe her beauty matters. I try not to think about girls who aren't into me like that in that sort of term...But a guy can't help but look.
She catches me watching and turns away, blushing. Before she can take it back, I add, softly,
"I think you're right."
She nods and smiles.


"And on the clouds, too <3. And maybe even in places like the caves... It's be fun."
"What would the flowers root onto on the clouds? Don't they need soil?"
"They could be like cloud bromeliads...The whole sky would become the tropics. It'd be great."
"So they'd be on a tropical vacation now?"
"And then, maybe he'll stay..."
She shakes her head, wiping off the wistful expression that appeared on her face.
[color=palevioletred["You got it!...But even if that can't happen..."[/color]

"That flowers will blossom everywhere. My prayers are no good if I don't mean everywhere, right?"
"I guess..." I'm not sure there's any god who's that literal.
...But even so, that's a really cute dream.


"I put in some grass seeds. I hope they reach your farm."
"So do I. Fodder-grass is pricey!"
We laugh.
"Grass is really more my style, but everyone does flowers."

"...Eh, flowers are useful, when you get down to it. Circle of life and all...But totally."
We nod.

Anyway, it looks like the Florist is the one to talk to about this sort of thing...

"To let the balloons go?"
"Wait, don't I get a balloon?"
"Of course! You're just the last one, since you showed up late."
She hands me a white balloon.






And we let them go. They all rise up almost in unison, little balloons with erratic flights, weighted by the seed bags. They're exactly like dandelions, spreading out so that the whole mountain will see seeds. Maybe.


But against the distant, white mountains, the colors of the balloons...Seem really beautiful. I watch them go for a while. The lands will be covered in seeds, with any luck, and it'll really feel like spring.

Well, I hope you like that, Miss Goddess.

I'm still thinking of exactly how to handle the update schedule...

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and, come to that, how to handle the music box. You see, when we can get it repaired, you can give it to a girl as a special gift...But a glitch in the game renders it so we can get an infinite number of them, making wooing easier.
I'm tempted to at least use one per girl so you can see all the reactions... Or we can use it for quicker affection boosts, or we can use it once and only once, in spite of the lovely in-story justification. And if so, if I should take it to a vote, or put it where I think we need the affection boost the most. Opinions?

[Seerow]

I'd vote for using as many music boxes as you need to get all the content. From what you and others were saying, wooing all the girls in one playthrough can be tough, I say take advantage of the glitch if needed to make things go a little smoother.

As for the update schedule, really whatever feels right to you is the way to go. You're doing all the writing, pushing too much could just burn you out. Cover as much material per update as you need to, when I asked earlier I was just trying to get a feel for how long this was going to go on, since I initially got the impression it was an over-the-summer sort of deal rather than a for-the-next-year kind of thing, and as mentioned I've never played Harvest Moon before so would like to see this through to the end.

[tomaO2]

Hi Deme.

I never owned Harvest Moon 64 but I rented it once. I kinda wish I had bought it in retrospect though (along with Star fox 64. Why did you turn such a great shooter series into an action game Nintendo? Booo!!!). It was my first time playing a Harvest Moon game and it sold me on the series and on farming games in general. I don't think anything has quite compared to my play through of this game though. No load times was a big plus. Buying a game was a pretty big deal back then though and I never saw it in the used video game market.

I'm really enjoying the series. Hard to believe that only about 8 days have passed. So much stuff has happened. I love how you have deepened the characters and the way you lengthened the conversations. Some good jokes too. I really liked the "library is closed on Monday" one. Heheh. You got a loyal reader with me, I'll be looking forward to how things progress. Already we are running into stuff I never knew about when I played the game (or perhaps forgot), like that Goddess popping up from the spring.

As to your question on the music box. I think you should absolutely use it but don't include the dupes that you make into the storyline. Have Fox officially give it one time to a girl and use it the rest of the time offscene to make sure you can finish the relationship arcs with all the girls as well. I'm counting on you to give us the full experience! I want to learn about all the secrets that I was not good enough to find on my own. Ohh, how about you use the music box on all the girls but 1 who becomes the "challenge". Maybe she heard about how Fox keeps playing the field and is determined to not fall for his wiles? In the end, she naturally becomes the wife.

PS. I know you have to have Fox play the field but he is going to eventually choose Karen, aka, the one that stands to inherit the town's only wine industry, right? I mean, common, would Fox rather grow flowers, tend animals, read books, bake cakes OR be too "buzy" because he's drinking wine?

The answer is clear.

[Deme]

Ha, thank you for the lovely comments ^^. I don't mind this lasting quite a while, really... Let's see, things to say...


I would not show the music box glitching on-screen except for each girl's unique reaction. In fact, I'd actually save-state to try and get the dialogue for that day on-camera. I think, though, that as far as I can tell, too much of that won't be needed. Maybe a little to get a few last little points before a picture, but I'm beginning to grow some confidence that this will all work. Which is lovely, since this is the first time I've tried to get Maria's photo in a single year...

As for who Fox will choose in the end...Well, that'll be up for y'all to decide. But there are girls who I think, right now, for whom it is easier are easier to write scenes with Fox.

[Trazoi]

I wouldn't mind seeing the music box reactions for everyone, although it might have to be presented out of story. And it might involve too much extra writing. It's a big game!

[Deme]

Well, I've already justified them on-screen, so that won't be a problem. Only problem could be getting the music boxes, but my test-runs show that we're going to start having tiny bits of more time. I'm personally praying for the day we upgrade our watering can, but other things will happen.

You know, it's been a while since I pointed out a problem with the translation/coding, and there's one in this chapter I'd like to share, so it's time for another...Typo Report!

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But you weren't expecting this one, were you? In fact, I bet you're wondering where the typo is.
Well, the typo isn't about what's there. It's about what isn't there. There technically is an option that says "Never Mind," or something like that. However, it only appears for a brief second after you select an option, flashing on the choice box before dissappearing. I'm not sure why this happens, or what caused the text not to be visible in the first place. Did they forget to put it in in most instances?
I'll say it now: dialogue choices are one of the most routinely messed-up things in HM64. Almost all instances of them will end up here.

Next time, I may use Typo Report to show off some dialogue that was so badly translated it makes no sense and one of the more famous and often-abused glitches in the game (one that, unlike music box glitch, we will not be using in-story, or even in our actual game. It's too useful, and takes away too much of our fun).