Natsume joins ESA

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Mar 16, 2009 10:00 am PT

Harvest Moon publisher hooks up with gaming industry trade group, confirms appearance at this year's E3.

The Entertainment Software Association's roster of members is on the rebound. After losing publishers such as Activision, LucasArts, and id Software in 2008, the trade group lowered its dues and is once again growing. Last week, X-Blades publisher SouthPeak threw its lot in with the ESA, and today the organization added Natsume to its ranks.

You'll make a fine meal, Abigail.

Best known for the long-running Harvest Moon series, Natsume focuses on family-friendly entertainment, with a stated mission to "Make Everyone Happy." Other Natsume products include Reel Fishing, River King, Chulip, and Ruff Trigger: The Vanocore Conspiracy.

Based in Burlingame, California, Natsume has been publishing games since 1990. As part of the ESA's announcement, the publisher revealed that it will be appearing at the trade group's newly revamped Electronic Entertainment Expo, which takes place June 2-4 in Los Angeles.

16 Comments

  • Arkady_Husky

    Posted Mar 18, 2009 10:23 am PT

    'I wouldn't mind a realistic British style farming sim, complete with market days and hired work that need a kick up the jacksy now and again.'

    And the protagonist could be a guy with wellies and a flat cap whose face looks like a roadmap of Britain with all of the burst capillaries, who shouts 'Get off my land' and threatens to shoot your dog if you go anywhere near his farm. Beats the hell out of the - as you say - androgenous kid with the big head and massive eyes though. But then again so does explosive diarrhea.

    'WTF, this confused me so much at first!
    There is only ONE agency that is called ESA(to anyone European) and that is the European space agency.....I kept thinking what the hell is he going to do there.'

    Me too (despite the acronym being spelled out in the first 4 words of the first sentence). 'Why does Natsume want to smash an expensive probe into a nearby planet or launch a German porn satellite into orbit?' I wondered, only realise my error and soil my drawers with shame.

  • leo316r

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:28 pm PT

    hmm make every one happy yes yes newly harvestmoon in psp

    Bokujou Monogatari Sugar Mura to Minna no Negai

  • geomyr

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 6:50 pm PT

    that's great i like the harvest moon series a kind of farming simulation.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 1:53 pm PT

    I wouldn't mind a realistic British style farming sim, complete with market days and hired work that need a kick up the jacksy now and again. Take note Natsume, I am bored of playing as a metrosexual guy trying to get married to dopey 12 year old girls with light bulbs for eyes, and every now and again doing a bit of actual farm work. I just wish the Japanese would try something new instead of shoving the same old anime stuff down our throats.

  • gudni

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 12:15 pm PT

    WTF, this confused me so much at first!
    There is only ONE agency that is called ESA(to anyone European) and that is the European space agency.....I kept thinking what the hell is he going to do there.

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 9:24 am PT

    That's great! Harvest Moon series is my all time most favorite time-consuming game. I hope they'll make another Harvest Moon for PS3!

  • aura_enchanted

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 7:25 am PT

    smart move natsume way too play it cool. cue M.J.'s smooth criminal!

  • Dinkyfish

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 5:53 am PT

    @ninja_where:

    As much as I would like a HM on the 360, no it does not.

  • ninja_where

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 4:12 am PT

    So, by the mission "Make Everyone Happy" does that mean we're gonna see an awesome Harvest Moon for the PS3, 360, Wii, DS, PS2, and PSP?

  • Guzthon

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 5:21 pm PT

    I'm glad that Natsume joins the ESA.
    I'm remember the great games like:
    - Shadow of thw Ninja (NES).
    - Shatterhand (NES). As developer
    - Return of a Ninja (GBC).
    - Special Cybernatic Attack Team (NES).
    - Pocky & Rocky series (SNES). As developer
    - Ninja Warriors (SNES).
    - Wid Guns (SNES).
    - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES and GB). As developer
    - Lufia series.
    Many more.

    "Ah. The good classic games rules."

  • jason231

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    I completly agree with chibi-acer , and on that note I'd like to say I'd love to see a Rune Factory for the PS3 in the future.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    I like Natsume, so this is good news. Some of their titles needed a bit more innovation, but the Rune Factory series was a step in the right direction, so at least it shows they're paying attention.

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    well I know I always liked the harvest moon games.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 1:23 pm PT

    Well anything like this is good news for gamers. The more companies that we have on board, the more games we get to see.

  • GatCloudX

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm PT

    natsume makes some interesting games! but not always the best games

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