Worldwide developer and publisher Natsume announced today that Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness has gone to gold master. 

When it ships on August 26th, its launch will also mark the franchise's ten-year anniversary.  To celebrate, Natsume is providing various retail promotions that include special pre-order items, a 10th anniversary DS Lite Kit, strategy guides and much more.  The game will be available for $29.99, and select retailers are offering a free chicken plush with the pre-order.

Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume, was especially pleased with the Harvest Moon milestone:

 "To have such a remarkable following and support for the Harvest Moon series is wonderful, and we think fans will be very pleased with this new handheld addition.  Island of Happiness stays true to the elements of the series that fans love, and will provide players an exciting Harvest Moon universe that will continue to elevate the series to new heights."

In Island of Happiness, players start off with an abandoned farm, a handful of seeds, and "the determination to start a new life."  From there, the player must develop an all but forgotten island into a "tropical paradise" by growing crops, raising animals, and mining for gems.  Of course, the player can choose his or her gender and work on their character's personal life at the same time.

Gamers can also compete for prizes via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.  That's right, you can actually test your farming skills against other players.