Natsume Inc.

This article is about the American video game company. For the Japanese company, see Natsume Atari.
Natsume
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryVideo game
FoundedMay 1988; 36 years ago (1988-05)
HeadquartersBurlingame, California, United States[1]
Key people
Hiro Maekawa (President)
Taka Maekawa (President, Natsume Inc Japan)
ProductsHarvest Moon
Reel Fishing
River King
Websitewww.natsume.com

Natsume Inc. is an American video game publisher. Originally established as an American division of Natsume Co., Ltd. in 1988, it split from its parent company in 1995 to become an independent publisher.

Natsume Inc. is located in Burlingame, California.[1] It is best known for publishing unique, family-oriented niche games, such as Harvest Moon and Reel Fishing. In 2013, Natsume Inc. inaugurated a Japanese division called Natsume Inc. Japan with no connection to its former parent company, Natsume Atari.[2]

History

Natsume Inc. was originally established as an American division of Natsume Co., Ltd. in San Francisco, California in May 1988.[3]

From the end of the Super NES era up until late 2014, Natsume Inc. was known for publishing the Story of Seasons games in North America under the title of Harvest Moon. The last game in the series it published was Harvest Moon: A New Beginning for the Nintendo 3DS. In 2015, the developer of the series, Marvelous AQL, brought the next game in the series, Story of Seasons, to North America with its own US branch, Xseed Games, ending the relationship it had with Natsume. Since then, Natsume Inc. has released its own games under the Harvest Moon name, starting with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley,[4] continuing with Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village. In 2013, Natsume Inc. opened up a development studio of its own, named Natsume Inc. Japan.[2]

Natsume Inc. has also operated an eBay shop, selling copies of older games sealed in their original packaging, collected from storage at its offices. At auction, the company sold a sealed copy of Pocky & Rocky for over $1,600.[5]

Works

These are games published by Natsume Inc. and/or developed by its subsidiary in Japan after becoming independent from Natsume Co., Ltd.

Most of these games were only published by Natsume in North America, although some reached Europe under the Natsume name through distribution deals with European companies, and some digital releases were self-published by Natsume in Europe.

Year Title Developer Platforms(s) Ref.
1995 Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals Neverland SNES
1996 Casper Bonsai Entertainment Game Boy
Casper Imagineering SNES
Harvest Moon Amccus SNES
Highway 2000 Genki Sega Saturn
Virtual Casino Digital Factory Sega Saturn
Reel Fishing Victor Interactive Software PlayStation
1997 Harvest Moon GB Victor Interactive Software Game Boy
Legend of the River King Victor Interactive Software Game Boy
1998 Lode Runner Presage Software PlayStation
Puzzle Bobble 4 Taito PlayStation
1999 Harvest Moon 64 Victor Interactive Software Nintendo 64
Harvest Moon 2 GBC Victor Interactive Software Game Boy Color
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature Victor Interactive Software PlayStation
Hole in One Golf Natsume Co., Ltd. Game Boy Color
Legend of the River King Victor Interactive Software Game Boy Color
Legend of the River King 2 Tose Game Boy Color
2000 Harvest Moon 3 GBC Victor Interactive Software Game Boy Color
Reel Fishing II Victor Interactive Software PlayStation
Turnabout Artdink PlayStation
2001 BursTrick: Wake Boarding!! Metro Corporation PlayStation
Car Battler Joe Ancient Game Boy Advance
Metropolismania Indi PlayStation 2
Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland Victor Interactive Software PlayStation 2
Lufia: The Legend Returns Neveland/Natsume Co., Ltd. Game Boy Color
Pocky & Rocky with Becky Altron Game Boy Advance
Skydiving Extreme Metro Corporation PlayStation
2002 Chulip Punchline PlayStation 2
Gekioh Shooting King Warashi PlayStation
Medabots Natsume Co., Ltd. Game Boy Advance
Medabots AX: Metabee/Rokusho Version Natsume Co., Ltd. Game Boy Advance
2003 Blockids Athena PlayStation
CIMA: The Enemy Neverland Game Boy Advance
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Marvelous Entertainment PlayStation 2, GameCube
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town Marvelous Entertainment Game Boy Advance
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town Marvelous Entertainment Game Boy Advance
Medabots Infinity Natsume Co., Ltd. GameCube
Reel Fishing III Victor Interactive Software PlayStation 2
2004 Finny the Fish & the Seven Waters SCEI PlayStation 2
2005 Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life Marvelous Entertainment GameCube
Harvest Moon DS Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon DS Cute Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon: Magical Melody Marvelous Entertainment GameCube
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature Victor Interactive Software PlayStation Portable
Reel Fishing: The Great Outdoors Natsume Inc. PlayStation Portable
River King: A Wonderful Journey Marvelous Entertainment PlayStation 2
2006 Ruff Trigger: The Vanocore Conspiracy Playstos Entertainment PlayStation 2
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Neverland Nintendo DS
Freedom Wings Taito Nintendo DS
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon ArtePiazza PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Metropolismania 2 Indi PlayStation 2
Captain Tsubasa Namco Bandai Games PlayStation 2
2007 Hi Hamtaro! Little Hamsters Big Adventure AlphaDream/Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility Marvelous Entertainment Wii
River King: Mystic Valley Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Puzzle de Harvest Moon Platinum-Egg Inc. Nintendo DS
2008 Adventures to Go Global A Entertainment PlayStation Portable [6]
Afrika Rhino Studios PlayStation 3
Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS
Harvest Moon: Animal Parade Marvelous Entertainment Wii
Princess Debut Cave Nintendo DS
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Neverland Nintendo DS
2009 Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming Platinum-Egg Nintendo DS, iOS [7]
Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Neverland Nintendo DS [8]
Reel Fishing Angler's Dream SIMS Wii [9]
Reel Fishing Challenge SIMS Wii [10]
Harvest Moon: My Little Shop h.a.n.d. Wii [11]
Moki Moki Natsume Co., Ltd. Wii [12]
Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition Natsume Co., Ltd. Wii [13]
2010 Cheer we Go Natsume Co., Ltd. Nintendo DS, iOS [14]
Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley Marvelous Entertainment PlayStation Portable [15]
Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo DS [16]
Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals Neverland/Square Enix Nintendo DS [17]
Reel Fishing Challenge II Natsume Inc. Wii [18]
Witch's Wish Yuke's Nintendo DS [19]
2011 Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny Neverland PlayStation 3 [20]
Reel Fishing Paradise 3D Natsume Nintendo 3DS [21]
Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns Marvelous Entertainment Nintendo 3DS [22]
Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D Natsume Nintendo 3DS [23]
2012 Gabrielle's Monster Match Santa Entertainment iOS [24]
Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning Marvelous AQL Nintendo 3DS [25]
Mystic Chronicles Kemco PlayStation Portable [26]
2013 Carnage Heart EXA Artdink PlayStation Portable [27]
Reel Fishing Pocket Natsume Co., Ltd. iOS [28]
Gabrielle's Zombie Attack Natsume Inc. iOS [28]
Yumi's Odd Odyssey Studio Sainenzen Nintendo 3DS [29]
Hometown Story Hyde Inc/Toybox Inc Nintendo 3DS, iOS [30]
2014 Gabrielle's Sweet Defense Nikukyu Co Ltd iOS [28]
Gabrielle's Monstrous Duel Natsume Inc. iOS [31]
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley Tabot Inc. Nintendo 3DS [32]
Hometown Story Pocket Natsume Inc. iOS [33]
Gotcha Racing Arc System Works Nintendo 3DS [34]
2015 Brave Tank Hero Arc System Works Nintendo 3DS, Wii U [35]
2016 Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories Natsume Inc. iOS [36]
Harvest Moon: Skytree Village Tabot, AJP Games Nintendo 3DS [37]
River City: Rival Showdown Arc System Works, Aplus Nintendo 3DS [38]
Super Strike Beach Volleyball Arc System Works Nintendo 3DS [39]
Wild Guns Reloaded Natsume Atari Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows [40]
2017 Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Tabot, Inc. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Android, iOS, Xbox One [41][42]
River City: Knights of Justice Avit-Niigata Nintendo 3DS [43]
2019 Ninja Climb Lit A.F. Games iOS [28]
Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure Natsume Inc., Tachyon Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows [44]
Harvest Moon: Mad Dash Appci PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox One [45]
2020 Cosmic Defenders Fiery Squirrel Nintendo Switch [46]
Legends of Ethernal Lucid Dreams Studio Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One [47]
2021 ConnecTank Yummy Yummy Tummy, Tamatin Entertainment Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S [48]
Harvest Moon: One World Appci, Natsume Inc. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One [49]
2022 Pocky & Rocky Reshrined Natsume Atari Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox Series X/S [50]
2023 Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos Appci, Natsume Inc. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S [51]
2024 Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Natsume Inc. Android, iOS [52]
Reel Fishing: Days of Summer Natsume Inc. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S [53]

References

  1. ^ a b "[ Natsume ]". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "NATSUME INC. ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICE OPENING IN JAPAN" (PDF). Natsume.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. ^ "History - Natsume Atari". www.natsumeatari.co.jp. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  4. ^ "Harvest Moon And Beyond, What's Next For Natsume?". March 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Classic game publisher cleans out its closet, makes thousands on eBay". Ars Technica. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Adventures to Go". IGN. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  7. ^ Dillard, Corbie (2009-08-08). "Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming Coming to DS in August". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  8. ^ "Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon – Natsume Inc". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  9. ^ "Reel Wii Motion! Reel Fun!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  10. ^ Marcel van Duyn (2009-06-29). "Nintendo Download: Fantasies, Fishing, Warfare, Reversi and Sudoku (US)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  11. ^ "Harvest Moon comes to WiiWare!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  12. ^ "Moki Moki". IGN. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  13. ^ "Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition". IGN. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  14. ^ "We Got Spirit! How About YOU?". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  15. ^ Sahdev, Ishaan (2010-10-15). "Natsume Ready Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley". Siliconera. Gamurs. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  16. ^ Newton, James (2011-04-07). "Harvest Moon: A Tale of Two Towns Coming to DS and 3DS". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  17. ^ "Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals – Home". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  18. ^ "Prepare to be Hooked by Reel Fishing Challenge II!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  19. ^ "A Spellbinding Adventure!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  20. ^ "An Ocean of Possibilities!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  21. ^ Sahdev, Ishaan (2011-02-17). "Natsume's First Nintendo 3DS Game Is Reel Fishing Paradise 3D". Siliconera. Gamurs. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  22. ^ "Trouble Boils Over in a Rural Rivalry!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  23. ^ "Terror Up the Dance Floor!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  24. ^ Sahdev, Ishaan (2012-02-08). "Gabrielle's Monster Match Grooves To The Beat Of A Puzzle Game". Siliconera. Gamurs. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  25. ^ "Completely Customize Your Farm and Town!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  26. ^ "To Arms, Guardian Beasts!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  27. ^ "Programmed For Fun!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  28. ^ a b c d Sahdev, Ishaan (2013-05-13). "Natsume Aren't Done With Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove Yet". Siliconera. Gamurs. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  29. ^ "HOOK, LINE, AND THINKER!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  30. ^ "A Tale of Life, Love, and Friendship!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  31. ^ "Journey to the legendary Alcao!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  32. ^ "Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley – Home". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  33. ^ "Open For Business!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  34. ^ "Start Your Engines!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  35. ^ "TAKE YOUR CITY BACK, BRAVE HERO!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  36. ^ "Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories – Home". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  37. ^ "Harvest Moon: Skytree Village – Home". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  38. ^ "Big Trouble in River City!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  39. ^ "King of the Beach!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  40. ^ "SHOOTOUT AT HIGH NOON!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  41. ^ "Light the Way!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  42. ^ "Will You Be the Island's Light of Hope?". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  43. ^ "Kunio Goes Medieval!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  44. ^ "A Trip to Remember!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  45. ^ "Multiplayer Farming Mayhem!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  46. ^ "Protect the Cosmos!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  47. ^ "Welcome to the World of Arkanys!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  48. ^ "WARNING!! A HUGE TANK BATTLE IN NEW PANGEA!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  49. ^ "A Harvest Moon with Global Appeal!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  50. ^ "The Adventures of Pocky and Rocky Continue!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  51. ^ "Explore the Amazing World of Anthos!". Natsume Inc. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  52. ^ "Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home announced for iOS, Android". Gematsu. 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  53. ^ "Reel Fishing: Days of Summer announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-05-29.