May 09 2017
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Birthdays the Beginning Review: Biology in a Box

Posted by | PC, PlayStation 4, Reviews | No Comments

Available On: PC, PS4

Sim games tend to either focus on realistic physics and sciences, such as Kerbal Space Program, or a more casual approach, such as Spore.

Birthdays the Beginning is a life sim and god game that successfully straddles the line between the two philosophies. It uses the real-world applications of geology, temperature, and ecosystems to craft a diorama of life. Everything is wrapped within a cute veneer of youthful colors, relaxing music, and playful designs to create an intuitive entry into learning about life’s delicate balance.
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Jan 23 2017
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Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns Coming to 3DS in February

Posted by | News | No Comments

While Stardew Valley got all the love last year, the longest-running farming and life sim series it was inspired from will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with a new title. Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is coming to North America on February 28 for Nintendo 3DS.

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns takes place in the intersection between three distinct regions. Each town and area is home to its own crops, shops, events, and romanceable companions. Trio of Towns will also include a multiplayer island for local and online play. A small plushie toy based on the in-game capybara pet is available for pre-order from retailers.

Trio of Towns will include unique outfits based on characters from Super Mario Bros. Each outfit also provides a special bonus.

  • Mario’s Outfit – Increases running speed
  • Luigi’s Outfit – Improves your luck at fishing
  • Princess Peach’s Outfit – Befriend people easier
  • Toad’s Outfit – Stamina recharges over time

Story of Seasons was formerly known as Harvest Moon, a series that dates back to the 90s with over two dozen titles. They’re widely considered the preeminent series of farming and life sim games.

Marvelous Inc. were the original developers but don’t own the copyright to the Harvest Moon name. The series was re-branded as Story of Seasons (published by XSeed Games), with the first title releasing in 2015 for the Nintendo 3DS. It received favorable reviews and became XSeed’s fasted-selling game.

To add to the confusion, the publishers that do own the Harvest Moon name (Natsume) released their own Harvest Moon title in 2014. It was called Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and was poorly received.

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns will be available in digital and physical format. It has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB with Comic Mischief, Suggestive Themes, and Alcohol Use. It releases on February 28 for Nintendo 3DS.