Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness Ships to Stores Nationwide

Grab your seeds, your watering can and your DS people, because Natsume announced today that Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness has shipped.

In celebration of the franchise’s 10-year anniversary,  Natsume’s Harvest Moon games have sold millions of units over the years, and the RPG/simulation phenomenon has appeared on almost every Nintendo handheld and console made. Also popular on with the PlayStation crowd, in celebration of Harevst Moon’s ten year success,  special anniversary packaging with various retail promotions and special collectible pre-order plush toys will be available. Also for DS collectors, a  10th anniversary DS Lite Kit complete with strategy guides, and many more specialty items to commemorate the beloved Harvest Moon series will also be available.

Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness brings the largest portable Harvest Moon experience ever to the DS  where players find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island. Starting off with nothing but an abandoned farm, a handful of seeds, and the determination to start a new life, it’s up to them to tame the land and develop this mysterious island into a bustling tropical paradise.

By harvesting crops, raising animals, and mining for precious gems, players will help the island grow into a vibrant town filled with people, businesses, and eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Players can take on the role of a male or female in their quest to find love and start a farming family. Players can also test their farming skills against each other and compete for prizes via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

The game wil be sold at the retail price of $29.99; but players who pre-ordered the game through select retailers will also receive a free chicken plush as a bonus gift with purchase while supplies last.

So get to farming folks and don’t forget to pet your cows once in a while. They need love and affection too ya know.