November 1, 2005 - The Harvest Moon series is now in its tenth year of letting gamers throughout the world experience the life of a farmer, and Marvelous Interactive, the Japanese publisher of the series, is celebrating in a big way. The company has already announced Innocent Life: Shin Bokujou Monogatari ("New Harvest Moon") for the PSP. To this, it added today Rune Factory: Shin Bokujou Monogatari for the DS.
Rune Factory is being developed by the Neverland Company, known for its vast library of Japan-only PlayStation 2 strategy titles. Described by producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto as Harvest Moon where you wield a sword, the game is being developed with the idea of creating a fantasy world in which the player exists, rather than the standard type of RPG where you play the role of a hero and work your way through a storyline. You'll be able to capture monsters, raise them on your farm, and add them to your adventuring party.
Both Rune Factory and Innocent Life are part of the "Shin Bokujou Monogatari" (New Harvest Moon) series, which includes games that differ from the traditional Harvest Moon titles. A release for the DS title is planned for some time in 2006