Original AWL Seasons Options

[Saffy]

Does anyone remember what the seasons were originally called in the Japanese version of A Wonderful Life? I believe Winter was Indigo. I'm curious to see what the others were, but I can't seem to find any information.

Also, on the topic, would you prefer the original season names or the standard Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? I liked the change personally. I was a bit saddened when they reverted back.

[Harvest Sprite]

Wait, are you saying that in all Japanese HMs the seasons are referred to as colors? I would assume it would have something to do with the color of the season, Spring being Pink or Green, Summer being Orange or Yellow, Fall being Red and so forth. I really wouldn't mind the seasons being named either way, mostly due to the fact I've never noticed the translation changes. What would be nice in all of the games is the smooth seasonal transition we saw in AWL.

Sort of off topic Saffy, how often do you think Natsume or Marvelous looks at this site? A lot of larger fansites are viewed by companies just to see reactions to new info and products.

[Saffy]

I don't believe they've done it with every Harvest Moon game. In fact, I'm pretty sure A Wonderful Life was the only Harvest Moon game to have different season names in the Japanese version.

But I have to agree. The smooth transition among seasons was one of my favourite aspects of the game. It just made it feel so much better. I loved the feel and beauty of A Wonderful Life. It's a shame there was just so little to do for such a long period of time...

I wouldn't say they look too often. I'm sure they've probably visited on occasion though.

[Harvest Sprite]

If they remade AWL with more spouses, not forced marriage/story progression, and I guess a bigger field it would have been so much better. Or at least incorporate the hybridization aspect into another game, that was genius.

[Saffy]

One other season was named Parrot. I believe that was Spring. And Winter was definitely Indigo.

I'm having to look through an old FAQ which unfortunately doesn't just say what the seasons are =\

[IdlersDream]

I can't give any information on this as I haven't played any of the Japanese versions but that would've been really nice if they kept it that way.

I agree with you two about the beautfiul season changes in AWL. I liked how one day it just wasn't bright green grass and then the next it was covered in snow. I wish they kept that aspect with the ones afterwards.

[Harvest Sprite]

Parrot? That's pretty awkward. I would assume parrot=tropical=summer, but oh well. XP

Another thing I like in AWL was the character development we didn't really see in other games, maybe that was from the flow of time. Despite strange sentence forms, you really got to know the characters and your actions actually changed how they acted towards you, rather than just a heart level. For example, if you don't marry Celia later she interrupts your drinking with Martin (I think that's his name....) whereas if you married Celia Martin wouldn't be so close a friend.

Yeah his name isn't Martin but big whoop. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

[Saffy]

Even just the progression of time in the game was amazing. It would get to around 6 o'clock and the game would have this beautiful sunset. I remember being in my field of grass with some animals and it just felt so amazing. I loved that.

[Harvest Sprite]

I wish they'd also keep the bonuses for connectivity. Perhaps a DS-Wii connection? I dunno.

Back on topic of seasons, sort of related to seasons, how did everyone feel about the lack of festivals? The only real way I see festivals in HM are for the rewards, but when practically everything in AWL was obtainable by friendship I didn't really worry about it as much.

[Saffy]

A Wonderful Life had so much potential but it was just lacking way too much. If it had festivals or even just some other shops to visit, I would've really enjoyed it a lot more =\

Though I guess to be fair Save the Homeland didn't exactly have festivals either. But Save the Homeland had its own charm.

[Harvest Sprite]

I never played save the homeland and I don't even plan to. Now THAT game was heavily story driven, no marriage, 4 crops as I recall. Was it really all that exciting? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif) And if you say it didn't have festivals, was the entire game just befriending characters?

[Saffy]

It was different. You also had to sell your items at the shops, which completely threw me off at first. I went into the game thinking it was just a normal Harvest Moon but 3D. Little did I know it was much different.

You did befriend characters a lot but you still got to manage your farm as well. There wasn't all that much to do in the game, but what I really enjoyed was that you would normally beat it within three seasons. You almost never saw Winter unless you were playing to lose. So it was quick, giving you this simple feeling of Harvest Moon, but making you focus on completing a story. To me it felt like there was always something to do even if it was just giving someone an item so they'd like you more.

The majority of players didn't seem to like Save the Homeland. It was often portrayed as the black sheep of the series (though I wonder how that's now changed). But to me it just had this certain charm that I fell in love with. Maybe it was partially the atmosphere? The game often felt very grey and gloomy, which is my favourite type of day for playing Harvest Moon.

[Darth-Paper-Boy]

Don't have anything to help with the months, but yeah the season transitions was yet another thing AWL did that felt amazing that they plain didn't follow up on. What a great pile of concepts and awesomeness that just barely wasn't executed right. =\

and yes, I think I'd probably prefer month names as opposed to regular seasons.

[Darkspirit9]

Wow I didn't know that the season names changed in AWL...Where do you get this stuff Saffy?!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jack_smile.gif)

[Saffy]

Back in 2003 on the original Ranch Story site I was following along very well with Akie/Marie's postings.

[Katie]

I'd heard of this before, and you are correct, Saffy, in that Spring is Parrot and Winter is Indigo, but in all my searching in the last half hour, I couldn't find the original Summer & Fall names. The only way I would suggest finding out is finding someone womewhere who's played the japanese version--or maybe asking Natsume (harhar). |D

[Toaster Boy]

Spring - Parrot
Summer -
Fall - Amber
Winter - Indigo

[Saffy]

Where did you find Amber, Toaster?

How exciting we're slowly adding the names one by one :0

[Toaster Boy]

The names of the original seasons were as follows from spring to winter; Parrot, Pepper, Amber, and Indigo.

[Katie]

PEPPER that was it. *facepalm*

I have no idea why these names ring such a bell, but I completely remember them. It's strange.