Japanese publisher Marvelous Interactive has confirmed that it’ll be publishing the next Harvest Moon instalment, Harvest Moon: Song of Happiness, exclusively for Gamecube across Japan in 2005.

Harvest Moon: Song of Happiness will allow players to choose either a male or female character to play with. Apparently, this latest instalment will feature an extensive array of new animals and characters, with more casual encounters with the wilderness such as a gang of wild dogs attacking your farm. As with the previous Harvest Moon titles, the ability to date a girl or – eek – guy of your dreams will once again be present.

No word on a Western release yet, though we’d be surprised if it didn’t come out here bearing in mind the successful debut of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (reviewed here: http://www.gamingheadlines.co.uk/view.asp?id=287) earlier this year. RP