Why has this game recieved such popularity compared to it's inspiration?

[Seal Enthusiast]

First off, yes this is a good game, but it is nothing new. When compared to Harvest Moon or any of it's spin-offs, one sees a minimal difference in gameplay and features, yet this has sold about half a MILLION copies in the first few months of release. This game has far outdone prehaps any Harvest Moon game, dispite being a very similar game; hell, youtubers ( very popular youtubers might I add) are even creating videos and entire series about this game. Thus I come to my question; does anyone have a theory about why this game has recieved such popularity compared to other games of this nature?

[Venom]

Originally posted by renault5216 (screw windows 10):

First off, yes this is a good game, but it is nothing new. When compared to Harvest Moon or any of it's spin-offs, one sees a minimal difference in gameplay and features, yet this has sold about half a MILLION copies in the first few months of release. This game has far outdone prehaps any Harvest Moon game, dispite being a very similar game; hell, youtubers ( very popular youtubers might I add) are even creating videos and entire series about this game. Thus I come to my question; does anyone have a theory about why this game has recieved such popularity compared to other games of this nature?

let me add your sourness a bit more
sales number is more than 900k and not counting the GOG version

[Volcott]

It's a comfy pc rune factory, what's not to like? You don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a fun video game.

[Seal Enthusiast]

Originally posted by Volcott:

It's a comfy pc rune factory, what's not to like? You don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a fun video game.

Yeah I get it's a fun game, hell I only bought it about a week ago and already have 24 hours in it. What I don't get is why it's so much more popular than a game like Rune Factory, I mean is it because it's sold on online store markets? Or is it just because it's on PC? I just find it really odd is all.

[Tim Timsen]

It's Harvest Moon for PC.

[Dee Twenty]

Well for one thing those Youtubers are a contributing factor. Outside of Japan the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons series get little to no advertising, Stardew Valley gets free advertising that reaches a large number of people by way of people like Markiplier, the Grumpy Gamers, and the Yogscast playing the game, so that's one leg up on Harvest Moon. For another it's a PC game that can pretty much run on a literal potato with a stick of RAM lodged into it, while the Harvest Moon series have been mostly handheld titles, I'd wager more people in the world own at least a toaster capable of playing Stardew Valley than there are people that own a 3DS or a PSP Vita, so that's a larger pool of possible customers. Being distributed digitally also means people in countries where it would be very difficult to get the proper handheld or console and a Harvest Moon disc or cartridge have a much easier time of purchasing the game legitimately, which again, larger pool of possible customers.

[Fire Miser]

Yes, because its on PC Stardew is popular on PC. Why? Because rune factory and Harvest moon have no good or any presence on PC. Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories will be on PC and will be mobile tripe bs. Stardew can also be modded and is still having content added by the Dev. Thats a huge perk. And the real harvest moon creators ditched Natsume for Xseed so its just a name Natsume uses to sell units now.

[Seal Enthusiast]

Originally posted by Dee Twenty:

I think that pretty well sums it up. I guess one could describe this game as "the trickle that became a flood"; thanks for the well thought out explaination.

[Rainbow Sheep]

1] multiple save files
2] nostalgia (some of the newer harvest moon games have been lackluster)
3] character customization
4] the mine has an elavator
5] gay option

[Seraphita]

No longer explanation needed than "Harvest Moon and Rune Factory for PC that isn't a ♥♥♥♥ (mobile) port and we can even mod it). It's quite an improvement compared to the originals.

[SelenaWolf]

It gets updated - the developer adds new stuff. People can mod it further. Personally never played Harvest Moon past the SNES/GBA versions, but in love whith this game. Never got to play rune factory, so loving the adventure bits added to this. Also, the characters seem to have more life to them (And will likely get more added as well)

[76561198102801402]

This game is a stress relief for me, the background music is just so beautiful.
Other than that, i love how easy it is to play the game as you will, you can do anything in this game at your own pace.

[Seal Enthusiast]

Originally posted by selenawolf:

It gets updated - the developer adds new stuff. People can mod it further. Personally never played Harvest Moon past the SNES/GBA versions, but in love whith this game. Never got to play rune factory, so loving the adventure bits added to this. Also, the characters seem to have more life to them (And will likely get more added as well)

You see the thing is, all of the things you mention don't really equate to sales. Many good games fail simply because they don't get good exposure: I mean think about it, did you hear about this game from other people, or did you find and subsequently buy it while you were browsing the storefront? You might be the latter of course, but I can assure you that if this is the case, you are in a small minority.

[Seelen]

1: PC (mega farging DUH!)
2: Better options
3: Dedicated developer
4: Organic feel (music, graphics and art in general)
5: Its fun
6: NOSTALGIA

[Kurzidan]

There's no real good way to explain this.

So I'm going to boil it down to points.

SDV is a PC game
SDV is Cheap (15$)
SDV is on Steam and GOG, Two of the most known/popular sources, for PC games
SDV is Indie (More often than not, an Indie developer will both allow and encourage free publicity)
SDV is capable and readily so, of free publicity.
SDV has had Probably over a dozen BIG name Free Publicity sponsors, and then further still, dozens of other free publicity

Free Publicity encourages pack mentality, ---Hero/Idol/Friends own the game, they look like they're having fun, It looks like I'd have fun, I want the game, I now own the game, Now I can compare my level of play to (insert)'s level of play. (I'm Better) Oh I can totally give advice to (Insert) now that I've had a chance to play the game,

SDV Isn't Nintendo's
SDV is solid and fun, Hitting and capturing many of the aspects those who love HM desire, as well as others who don't.
_____________________



HM is Nintendo's
HM has not been on PC until recently, Unless you count Emulators. In which case....
HM was not on Steam or GOG before.. and might still not be for some time
HM that we want is probably not going to be on PC, Steam, Or GOG.. /A/ Harvest Moon, is coming to pc...It is also coming to mobiles and wii/u... so take it with a grain of salt.
HM, Unless you count the emulators, Is not as cheap. (Many Titles are /still/ 20$, and these are titles that are on the handhelds, and generally, a cheaper price than the home-stay console)
HM is capable but not readily so, and not popularly so, of Free Publicity.
Sometimes even when it gets it, Nintendo will "accidentally" shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly

Lack of the unit, Lack of the Free Publicity, and Lack of good, proper publicity, discourages user consumption. The less consumption, The further discouraged. The Further Discouraged, The greater the cost of "the price" feels, thus, further discouraging.

The HM you know and like, Was fun, maybe even solid.. The HMs you don't know through lack of unit, or 'accidentally skipping', Maybe maybe not.
HM that hasn't been on the DS, Wii, or WII U as of late, hasn't really been HM that fans want. and for the most part, It hasn't done this.

______
Rune Factory

RF (namely Tides of Destiny) Is Part Nintendo's
RF has not been on PC. AFaik at all not counting emus
Not on Steam/Gog
RF was likely worth its price, but likely, not as cheap as 15$, in any installment, not counting "old" game "sale" price at someplay like Game Stop
RFToD was Solid, and fun, RF probably was fun and maybe solid in each installment.
RF has more innovation thanks to the additional freedoms of "Fantasy"
RF.... is... uhhh.. maybe capable and readily so, for free Publicity? I don't actually know... However. The big helper for RFToD and possibly others.

Is that RF was on the PS and not just Nintendo.
For instance. I owned and played RF ToD on my Ps3. I played the ever-loving crap out of it during lunch breaks. It was pretty nice.

You know what I didn't play during lunch break? HM.
You know what I didn't play after work? HM
You know what I haven't played since SNES/N64 title/era? HM
You know what might make me want them more? if it was on Steam>PC>or had good free-publicity showcasing it, playing and having fun with it, in a manner I can enjoy.

You know what is on steam, and does have me wanting them more?
SDV (I own), Enter The Gungeon (Not) and Factorio (Again)... Funny how those are also Steam+PC+free publicity speaking on its behalf, Titles.

Similar could be said about Undertale and Fnaf. (not necessarily of me wanting them in both cases, but of their free publicity, steam, pc, and thus explosive popularity)

[Seal Enthusiast]

Originally posted by Kurzidan:

Thanks for the great response, I was thinking it was something along these lines. Its amazing how these games can become a flood with just some free publicity.