Animal Crossing

[TheFlyingGerbil]

Is anyone excited about this game?

 

I've been trying not to spoil it too much for myself  but it seems to have a decent enough amount of new ideas and content to avoid accusations of just being the same game rereleased on a different format. I like that it seems easier to visit other people's villages, including strangers.

 

I'm hoping the download is not too stupidly priced because it's open-ended I think it will benefit from being able to pop in and out while leaving a more completable game in the game slot.

 

I've got to think of a decent name for my village as I was a bit boring last time just using the name of the village where I live.

 

[deanb]

From what I've seen and heard of Animal Crossing it seems a game that might tickle my fancy. But no Nintendo consoles. I think there's a DS version, but I've a feeling that doesn't compare to the main console games. Anyone any experience with difference between handheld and console versions?

[Saturnine Tenshi]

The DS version is better than the Gamecube version. It has all the same features and more. I can't speak for the Wii or 3DS games, but the Gamecube and DS titles were great.

[Vecha]

I haven't played a Animal Crossing game since the gamecube...may pick this up if the price is right.

[CorgiShinobi]

I only ever played the GCN game, though that was originally a Japanese N64 game. I played the crap out of the first, but after one of my money trees failed to sprout, I didn't completely pay all my debt and stopped after playing around half a year. Turns out I was just really lucky the first half dozen times and burying money didn't always work. I would have gotten a giant golden statue!

 

The DS game, from what I heard at the time, blew away the GCN game with its features.

 

I remember City Folk (the Wii title) did okay, but the few people I knew who bothered with it didn't think it added much more to the series.

 

I might give this new title a chance given the 3DS capabilities.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Atomsk88

[FMW]

@TheFlyingGerbil - yes, the release of a new Animal Crossing (and I really do mean all new, not the weird "Wild World Console Edition" thing that City Folk did") is one of my most anticipated entertainment releases this year.  It outstrips Luigi's Mansion, Shin Megami Tensei, and Mario and Luigi in my anticipatory esteem.

 

@Deanb - Wild World on the DS is superior to the Gamecube original, but Nintendo kinda coasted on Animal Crossing City Folk for the Wii.  The vast majority of the items in the world, animals in the town, and even the gosh darn music is identical.  The art style of Animal Crossing games makes it that (in my opinion) the graphical upgrade from DS to Wii is negligible   City Folk really isn't significantly better or worse than Wild World, it really comes down to what sort of screen you would want to experience the game on.  For my money, I think Animal Crossing is much more convenient on a portable system.  If that's your only option to try the franchise, journey forward without reservation.  You aren't getting a stripped down or inferior experience in the slightest.

 

@Everyone - new Animal Crossing, new music!  This is why I've already paid this game off:

 

[Mal]

It really makes me sad that this is Nintendo only. I love what I played of the GCN/DS version. Land of extortion and other shady stuff... made fun!  Perhaps I'll play a future version on 5DS.

 

Also I love the music. Its simple but its really nice.

Edited March 19, 2013 by MaliciousH

[deanb]

So I've been playing a bit of Animal Crossing: Wild World. It's kind of okay, but quite a few quirks that could do with polishing. Firstly it uses real world time, and I guess for most folks (especially the children it's aimed at) it's fine and dnad,y but I tend to do stuff during the day and game at night, and that's past Nintendos bed-time, meaning I can only play  "properly" for a little bit. The other thing is it's not very explanatory on what to do and how to make money. So far most of my cash is from finding out I'm meant to work for Tom Nook for a bit (though it seems that's a one off at the start) and then just picking all the oranges and shells in the game world and selling them, and keeping whatever bells drop from the trees. It's not the best money spinner. There's a fishing rod I've gotten, but I can't figure out how you're meant to make it work. And one issue that can't really be fixed, but I'm suddenly realising the only portable 3D games I play are on my PSP, I've only done mostly JRPG types; Final Fantasy, Pokemon, or touchy games like Prof Layton before now. D-pad is horrible for wandering about. My lefty housemate was rubbing in she can use stylus and action buttons at the same time.

 

I might stick with it, not sure. The real time thing is just kind of annoying tbh.

[Saturnine Tenshi]

Yeah, I always had trouble with the "bed times" in the Animal Crossing games. I think that's a legitimate complaint. As far as cash is concerned, growing turnips or radishes or whatever they're called is a good source of income.

[deanb]

How'd you grow turnips? (I have got some flowers growing for a competition, may have stolen a few dozen too, but no turnips, just oranges as far as good goes)

[Saturnine Tenshi]

I think some dude comes along eventually and is like, "Yo. Turnips." http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Animal_Crossing:_Wild_World/Joan_and_her_turnips

[FMW]

Changing your system's internal clock to manipulate your Animal Crossing town is a tradition passed down since the game released for the Gamecube.  I recommend just bumping your system forward three hours or so.  The time that Nook goes to sleep is a really weird mechanic too.  Not only because it puts a hard limit on when you can play the game, but as you progress the store eventually upgrades and expands operating hours.  So you unlock the ability to play the game for 17 hours of the day, then 19, then I think eventually all 24.  It's a bizarre thing to bar behind an unlock.

 

Lastly...  FUCK YEAH!  Animal Crossing is a game better for LEFT handed people!  LEFT handed people!  I have suffered through sub-optimal left handed controls in Zelda, in 999, in Metroid, in Kid Icarus... the DS (and particularly 3DS) are NOT friendly to lefties.  I DESERVE this.  Suffer Deanb, suffer my pain and inconvenience!

 

...also, maybe consider just moving over to straight touch control. That's how I always play it, and then it doesn't matter which hand you're using at all.

[Saturnine Tenshi]

@FMW: Word. I'm left-handed, and I loved that.

[Waldorf and Statler]

pfft. Lefties. Should've taken care of you in WWII.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

To fish, you have to throw the float in upstream of the fish and let it float toward the fish, you scare it off if you throw it directly at the fish, then you have to let the fish bite once and do nothing, then on the second time it bites real the sucker in. 

 

Part of the appeal of the game is it's linked to the real world, with the seasons changing in real time so you have to play for at least a year to get all the insects/fish etc.,  in game celebrations happen on real holidays and use it at certain times of day to get certain things e.g. the turnip lady I think only comes on Sunday mornings.

 

You buy white turnips off her and sell them to nook, they only keep for a week so you have to sell them to him before she returns. It's like a stock market.  (hence her name, Sow Joan) she sells at different prices each week and he buys at two different prices every day. You can't plant white turnips. You can buy red turnip seeds which you can plant, they need to be watered every day else they die, and after a week you can dig them up and sell them to nook for a tidy, fixed profit.

 

To enjoy Animal Crossing to its fullest, I think you have to get out of the mindset that it's a game you've got to beat and be done with and think of it as an experience more like life, you can't do everything in real life either. It's not for everyone but it's certainly an integral part of its charm for a lot of people. There's not many games you can play every day for a year and still find something new just because you maybe needed to get  up early one day for some reason. 

 

I never changed the time in the game - if I missed something, I missed something: it will be there next week, next year. Maybe I'll see it, maybe I won't. If that bothers you I don't think the game is for you.

 

Having said that, the new game will have a setting for early birds/night owls, so I guess it will change the time of day most of the action happens to fit in better with how you play the game. I do think this is a great idea as \i know i missed out on stuff by mostly playing in the evenings - though I saw a lot of nice things like shooting stars which other people will have missed.

 

edit: I just remembered there's a cheat in the game where if you place your white turnips on a table they don't spoil so you can keep them until the price is right to sell or if you don't play for a while you haven't wasted your money.

 

To help make money, keep an eye out for coconuts on the shore. Plant it on the shoreline and you can harvest the coconuts from the trees at 500 bells each. Obviously, it's best to plant at least one from each harvest so you get more trees but they only grow on the shoreline. Also, write a lot of letters to your villagers, and attach a cheap present (usually I'd just attach a second sheet of paper) they write back with a present, and if they give you a non-native fruit, plant it as non-native fruit is worth 500 bells when native is only - if I remember correctly - 200. But really there is no rush to make money - there is no finish to the game so you won't get through it faster by paying off Nook quickly.

 

edit 2: Nintendo have just released an Iwata Asks for New Leaf. Worth a read.

Edited April 12, 2013 by TheFlyingGerbil

[TheFlyingGerbil]

so, for you lucky people in the US New Leaf is out in a week. Have you thought of your character and village names yet? Are you going to use one's you have previously, or come up with something new? I haven't decided yet but do have an extra week as I'm in the EU I'm thinking about being a girl character this time because they look so cute.Though I'll probably wuss out of that.

 

I think I'm going to name my village Koholint and if I choose a girl, she'll be Marin. I guess that means I could call the boy Tarin but I don't like that as much.

[Little Pirate]

I love Animal Crossing, I'm addicted to these kind of games.  Especially since they're great for passing time casually. When I played Wild World, I learned that I seemed to get all the dickish animals living with me.  I HATE YOU, YOU NEVER WRITE TO ME.   OH HEY THERE. I'M JUST GONNA TAKE YOUR MONEY...YOU DON'T MIND DO YOU? OH IS THAT A NEW SHIRT?  IT LOOKS TERRIBLE ON YOU.  But all in all, it was an enjoyable, cute game. I want a 3DS so I can get some new releases of my favorite series, but I have money stashed away for when the PS4 hits the market...  It's such a shame, this one looks like a lot of fun. 
 

Also you might like:

Edited June 5, 2013 by LittlePirate

[TheFlyingGerbil]

That video is really funny.

 

I have to say I kind of love the angry residents - it's best at least that there's a mix, and you can always chase them out of town by hitting them with you net if you  genuinely don't like them. but they do usually end up showing their insecurities or a softer side so there is a hook for all of them for you to like them

[Mal]

I'm sitting here and thinking "I need* a DS..." since I want to play New Leaf.

 

*Temporal need. Need of passion. Need of impulse.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

If anyone has the game and wants to add me I'm 3437-3195-3803 and called Joe. I've got peaches in my town. Don't forget to tell me if you add me so I can add you too.

[TheFlyingGerbil]

ugh. so I've been reading a few places with people having problems with their connections. I had someone in my village for quite a while All was going well. He gave me cherries and I planted some. Then someone else arrived and I planted the rest of the cherries. The new guy gave me some apples I shook all the trees and got some 3 pieces of furniture. Then I got an error and when it popped me back in my town the apples had gone, a 5,000 bell fossil I'd posted in the flea market had been sold, but the  money didn't turn up and all my furniture I'd collected and sold at inflated prices (re-tell wants furniture today) was gone. Nightmare. Seems when the connection is lost it goes back to the last save (which happens automatically when the second person arrived).

 

It didn't reset the software so I don't know why it couldn't have kept the changes

[TheMightyEthan]

Always online DRM is fun.

[Waldorf and Statler]

Just bought the game. I'm gonna give it a try today later today. Funny I have so many games for my 3DS now. I basically own every first party Nintendo game I can think of involving their main line-up of characters. Next up I'm gonna buy the Oracle Zelda titles. Thank god I got this SD card, next title after I eventually purchase those I get for my SD will be... wait Super Smash doesnt come out till 2014. Neither does Flying Fairy. Well shit. Anything good supposed to come out fall 2013?

 

edit: just remembered Shin Megami Tensei. Definitely will get that. Also the Yoshi and Mario Party games.

 

Either ways any tips for an AC newbie?

Edited June 18, 2013 by Waldorf And Statler

[TheFlyingGerbil]

the oracle games are reduced in price at the moment (until the 20th of this month) to celebrate their launch so if you want them now is a good time to grab them.

 

edit: The best tip to make your day to day life so much easier is left and right on the d-pad scrolls through your equipment (net, fishing rod, spade etc.) and down to put it away (so you can shake trees, for example) all without going into your pocket. It saves so much hassle.

Edited June 18, 2013 by TheFlyingGerbil

[Waldorf and Statler]

Lol thanks, I was just thinking "man what a hassle". I stopped playing for now as I just paid the down payment on my house and bought some items, I may start again later tonight to catch some more bugs. A couple of questions:

 

-Clothing items:

a. Do they change in the store daily? I ask because right now I have a top hat and a fancy suit/tie I made in a pro-design but I'd love to be able to buy black pants, a monocle, and shoes eventually.

 

b. When I display a pro-design in the store can others see it as well? I ask since the first prodesign I took said it was from somewhere else.

 

-Fishing rod: Where do I get it? I already bought the spade and the bug net but I can't find the fishing rod.

 

-Museum: Is it worth filling it up? So far I got 3 fossil pieces and I gave them all to the museum instead of selling them but if it's not worth it outside of being a completionist [aka your town gets no bonus whatsoever] then I might start to sell everything I get.

 

-House upgrades: I notice you can change the look of the outside but can you expand your house once you build it?

Edited June 19, 2013 by Waldorf And Statler