Cubed³: How did the original concept for the Harvest Moon series arise and what was the reasoning behind the Super Nintendo being its début platform?

Graham Markay, Senior Director of Operations at Natsume: The original concept of Harvest Moon was the brainchild of Yasuhiro Wada. At the time the SNES was the most popular system with the largest install base…therefore it made sense to release a unique title such as Harvest Moon on it.

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C3: What sort of hurdles have you been faced with in getting Harvest Moon the recognition it deserves in the West? And how have you managed to overcome these obstacles?

GM: In the beginning, the idea of a farming RPG/Simulation did not go over very well. In a time when most of the RPGs on the market were based on a mythic world with swords, monsters and magic, Natsume introduced a RPG based on farming where the main character was armed with a hoe and watering can. However with hard work and the support of retail, we were able to get Harvest Moon out there. And the rest is history!

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C3: Whilst the Harvest Moon games have made appearances on Sony systems, they are predominantly seen as ‘Nintendo games’ by many sectors of the gaming community. Will Harvest Moon always be a multi-platform series, or would consideration ever go to making it exclusive to one particular company?

GM: This would be better addressed by the developers; however everyone involved has always wanted to get Harvest Moon to the fans. The Harvest Moon franchise has done well with both Nintendo and Sony. They both have a little different demographic from one another, but there are Harvest Mon fans who support Nintendo and those that support Sony…we just want to make sure there is a Harvest Moon game for both audiences.

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C3: The latest Harvest Moon on the DS is currently racking up very strong sales in Japan. With such a fan-base already building up on that system, do you feel the same success can be transferred to the Wii when that system’s Harvest Moon game launches?

GM: By all means…Harvest Moon Wii will offer a game play experience that Harvest Moon fans have yet to see. With the Wii’s unique controllers and the fundamentals of Harvest Moon, we are sure players will have an extremely fun time!

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C3: Talking of sales, what are your thoughts on how both Harvest Moon DS and Magical Melody on the GameCube performed in the US?

GM: We are very pleased with the reception of Harvest Moon: Magical Melody and Harvest Moon DS in the United States. Every year it seems the Harvest Moon fan base grows with new players young and old. Harvest Moon: Magical Melody has recently gone Player’s Choice giving Nintendo GameCube owners a chance to pick up this great title.

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C3: It has been announced that Rune Factory is definitely coming to America. Can you tell our readers how it will differ from the traditional Harvest Moon mould?

GM: Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon is set to release at the end of the 2nd Quarter of 2007 in the United States. Rune Factory takes elements of the Harvest Moon franchise and adds new elements normally not found in a Harvest Moon game. It is important to note that Rune Factory is not replacing the standard Harvest Moon series that many have grown to love over the years, but is instead becoming a new series in the Harvest Moon universe. The fantasy world of Rune Factory enables players to live a life where they not only battle monsters and follow a compelling storyline, but also grow crops and befriend villagers.

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C3: With hype already building up around Harvest Moon for the Wii, is there anything you can tell us about how the system’s features will be used (such as the control input)?

GM: It is still a little early to take about the details of Harvest Moon Wii, however it most definitely take advantage of the Wii’s unique controllers.

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C3: And will anything like the WiiConnect24 service be used to update what can be bought or have new animals appear in your game as time passes by?

GM: It is still a little early to tell.

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C3: What are your thoughts on incorporating Wi-Fi Internet functionality into the HM series, with players being able to visit friends' farms and/or trade with each other (in an Animal Crossing style)?

GM: Once again, the development team would be best suited to answer this question. However, I do know that the team is always trying to come up with new and original ideas to keep our loyal Harvest Moon fans happy.

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C3: This year is the tenth anniversary of the series. Are there any plans to commemorate this wonderful achievement?

GM: We have a couple of surprises in store for later this year…

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C3: Where do you see the Harvest Moon games going in the future? Already there is Puzzle de Harvest Moon coming to the DS, but what else is possible?

GM: With the diehard fan base of Harvest Moon continuing to grow, we want to try to introduce new and fun games in the Harvest Moon Universe, such as Puzzle de Harvest Moon. A lot of thought and time went into the design of Puzzle de Harvest Moon…our goal is to put out a quality product that will not hurt the Harvest Moon brand name. We are hoping more unique titles based from the world of Harvest Moon will follow.

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C3: What are your thoughts on a possible expansion of the HM idea, moving it into a SimCity / Theme Park style?

GM: Harvest Moon is a bit of a simulation as it is. One thing that makes Harvest Moon special is the interaction you have with the different characters in town. Who you marry or make friends with is completely up to you. Making a Harvest Moon game more of a simulation might take a little of that magic away. However, we are always looking at new ideas and concepts to keep our Harvest Moon fans happy.

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C3: Could you ever envisage a Nintendo-Natsume crossover project, with either Nintendo characters appearing in a Harvest Moon title or even HM characters making cameo appearances in something like Mario Kart or Smash Bros.?

GM: That would be very interesting!

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C3: What is the idea behind Puzzle de Harvest Moon and how is the HM world being translated into the puzzle genre?

GM: Puzzle de Harvest Moon is blend of an addictive puzzle game and the world of Harvest Moon. It is much more than Harvest Moon characters being added to a puzzle game. From the very first design, it was meant to complement the Harvest Moon franchise and be something unique.

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C3: Can we expect a Western release or is it too much of a niche title?

GM: Puzzle de Harvest Moon will be released in United States later this year.

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C3: Can you talk about where the future of the Legend of the River King series lies with regard to the DS and Wii?

GM: Let’s just say that there will be an announcement shortly.

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C3: Natsume previously published the very impressive CIMA: The Enemy on the GBA in the US. Are there plans to further this series?

GM: We hope to continue the series, however at this time there has been no announcement on a sequel.

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C3: Also, after the Lufia team has finished working on Rune Factory, are there any plans to resurrect the Lufia series, perhaps on DS or Wii?

GM: Nothing has been discussed. Neverland, the company that developed Lufia is also the same company that developed CIMA: The Enemy. Hopefully the next project we work on is a follow up to that series.

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C3: Finally, how likely are we to see older Natsume games appear on the Wii’s Virtual Console? Is there any word on it happening soon?

GM: We are looking into it and hopefully in the future we will see some great Natsume classic games on the Wii’s Virtual Console!