Children?

[RickyKitty]

I did a search and looked around and didn't see this topic, but hope I'm not stating something that has already been said.

I realize if this is asking for too much, especially if a lot of people end up wanting kids. But something I really loved about harvest moon games was raising different children. I was able to love each kid and spend special time with and around them, and it enhanced the experience a lot for me. I figure after a certain stage in a relationship with an NPC maybe that could be an option, if you have the ability/space to care for one.

It could be birth+adoption, or maybe some magical creature "delivers" the children to you magically, maybe even at a specific age so aging them isn't a thing. And obviously any sort of family could have a child if the player wanted, and that would be great.

And ideally they could have some sort of role in the world around them. Maybe communicate to things you can't see, help you out, hang out certain places, all depending on their personality.

Its great having a pet but personally I always love a cute little tiny person to come home to and care for in those games!!

I realize it might be too much, but I really like the idea and thought I'd point it out!!

[Dineosoar]

Yes, I believe this is a "controversial" topic. We all(some of us anyway) want digikids, deep down, but the layout of the game brings some question into the matter.

Realism: There's no real gender for the character, even if the npcs do have one, we might not have the compatible "body parts" to give realistic birth.
This could easily be solved by saying babies are magic or having a lab that makes a baby for you, but personally, if I'm going to be digiblessed I want to be digipregnant.(Well, it doesn't matter that much tbh I just wanted to say digipregnant.)

Genes: The babies in Harvest Moon are premade stock children, with all the variety that PO is making in customization, it'll probably be difficult to simply mash our genes with the different npc's DNA and even more so with other character's DNA. (Unless you want everyone to have the same kids.)

And some other stuff, but if they were able to make kids, I fully support it.
The lab suggestion also makes it so you know when you get the babe too.

[kheii]

They actually mentioned this in their tumblr post and if I remember correctly, they are planning on the players to have children in the game. They also mentioned that they are going to use some formula that would calculate the appearance of the child based on the parents but of course personality is a whole different matter. They also mentioned about storks delivering the babies

[Dineosoar]

They actually mentioned this in their tumblr post and if I remember correctly, they are planning on the players to have children in the game. They also mentioned that they are going to use some formula that would calculate the appearance of the child based on the parents but of course personality is a whole different matter. They also mentioned about storks delivering the babies

Ah, thank you for that information then Kheii! I miss a lot of the infos when I'm not paying attention.

[RickyKitty]

Realism: There's no real gender for the character, even if the npcs do have one, we might not have the compatible "body parts" to give realistic birth.
This could easily be solved by saying babies are magic or having a lab that makes a baby for you, but personally, if I'm going to be digiblessed I want to be digipregnant.(Well, it doesn't matter that much tbh I just wanted to say digipregnant.)

Genes: The babies in Harvest Moon are premade stock children, with all the variety that PO is making in customization, it'll probably be difficult to simply mash our genes with the different npc's DNA and even more so with other character's DNA. (Unless you want everyone to have the same kids.)

Yeah, I figured this wouldn't be something easy to bring into the game! Never thought of the mashing of the npc and player character's DNA, and obviously that adds complications too.

You could be didpregnant *and* have magic babies. Just no giving birth XD They magically appear and your belly is gone! Maybe in this game anyone can be pregnant regardless of body parts (unless they check that off or something?) because babies are magical!

I wouldn't want my character giving birth, personally. o.o Being magically pregnant would be cool though.

[RickyKitty]

They actually mentioned this in their tumblr post and if I remember correctly, they are planning on the players to have children in the game. They also mentioned that they are going to use some formula that would calculate the appearance of the child based on the parents but of course personality is a whole different matter. They also mentioned about storks delivering the babies

Oh! Thanks for pointing that out! I went through their tumblr but I must have not gone back far enough! That will be pretty cool if they are able to pull it off!

[CalliopeSoul]

I'm also interested in if children will be a game possibility.

[Doctor Glasgow]

children will be included in the game, and we are going to make the process are realistic as possible by having them all be delivered by the stork, since that is obviously how it works

obviously

[mrs saturn]

Having in-game kids sounds really cool! And let's be honest, games like this are made in some extent for escapism, think about The Sims where you can time-travel and turn into a werewolf/fairy/mermaid etc... But there's no way for two same-sex sims to have a baby? Not only is it disappointing, it just feels really unnecessary! The line between "realistic" and "unrealistic" is incredibly arbitrary. Ugh. Personally I think the stork is a good way of bypassing this, while having the child look like the parents so it's still not just a random "blank" baby from the baby factory.

Rant aside, I like the idea of children being useful somehow! At least when/if they stop being toddlers. If you could set up your own little shop (like in Neopets) your kid could run it? You set the products and prices and they just sit behind a lemonade stand-type thing in front of your house, and they're the NPC people talk to if they wanna buy your things. (Or maybe we should be careful about promoting child labor...) They could also come with you like a pet and like, "go exploring" while you're out and find neat little things for you. I'm not sure, but I'd love to hear more ideas on the practical functions of children. (or if they should just be cute additions to your home)

I also think it'd be neat if you could, to some extent, customize the appearance of your child. I don't know if you should be able to make it so it looks nothing like the parents - I don't like that in games, I like getting a child I'd never have thought to make like that, not being given the option to make them prettier or whatever, and then loving them regardless because they're my child. But things like hairstyles and haircolor would be neat, not to mention clothes.

[Kattycake]

Having in-game kids sounds really cool! And let's be honest, games like this are made in some extent for escapism, think about The Sims where you can time-travel and turn into a werewolf/fairy/mermaid etc... But there's no way for two same-sex sims to have a baby? Not only is it disappointing, it just feels really unnecessary! The line between "realistic" and "unrealistic" is incredibly arbitrary. Ugh. Personally I think the stork is a good way of bypassing this, while having the child look like the parents so it's still not just a random "blank" baby from the baby factory.

Rant aside, I like the idea of children being useful somehow! At least when/if they stop being toddlers. If you could set up your own little shop (like in Neopets) your kid could run it? You set the products and prices and they just sit behind a lemonade stand-type thing in front of your house, and they're the NPC people talk to if they wanna buy your things. (Or maybe we should be careful about promoting child labor...) They could also come with you like a pet and like, "go exploring" while you're out and find neat little things for you. I'm not sure, but I'd love to hear more ideas on the practical functions of children. (or if they should just be cute additions to your home)

I also think it'd be neat if you could, to some extent, customize the appearance of your child. I don't know if you should be able to make it so it looks nothing like the parents - I don't like that in games, I like getting a child I'd never have thought to make like that, not being given the option to make them prettier or whatever, and then loving them regardless because they're my child. But things like hairstyles and haircolor would be neat, not to mention clothes.

I feel like after launch this should be looked at! Caring for a baby and watching it grow up, helping around the farms or something. Lemonade stand idea.
Would be cute