I have this love/hate relationship with the Animal Crossing series. I love the game, but I can get obsessed with it and I hate that. When I start feeling like I have to tune in every day and I start buying everything in sight trying to fill collections, it's time to stop and I go cold turkey. For a while...
I recently started up AC: Wild World after nearly a year away. I was stuck in the entrance booth at work for the afternoon shift and AC is a game that I can put down and pick up in between dealing with park visitors and answering the phone. I turned on the DS to find: My town of Nu Haba (phonetic pronunciation of the Maine accent for the town I grew up in) was completely filled with weeds, my house was infested with cockroaches, all my flowers were dead, and the only two residents I liked had moved away. Farewell Bones and Purrl, my towns people now consist of nothing but birds and rodents.
I spent that afternoon doing nothing but pulling weeds and reacquainting myself with the little town I'd abandoned a year ago. I may have caught a few fish and bugs and dug up a fossil or two (or maybe they were gyroids that day), as well. And I definitely gathered up a bunch of fruit and shells and sold them to that greedy raccoon Tom Nook. Over the course of the last week, I've spent an hour or so a day tending to my town. I've got a different approach this time, though. I'm catching lots of bugs and fish and digging up fossils like before, but my big focus is expanding my house to its biggest size first. And trying to fill up the museum, because that's just fun to do. I'm not sure if I care if my townspeople stick around, I can deal with them later. After my house is maxed out, then I'll start buying everything in sight and worrying about keeping the denizens of Nu Haba happy. Heck, maybe some of the annoying ones will finally get a hint and leave and cooler animals will move in.
In the week that I've been playing again, I have realized a few things:
- I really hate how if you don't spend time in game every day, you get penalized.
- My favorite parts of the game are catching bugs and fish,digging up fossils, and trying to get Brewster to become more talkative.
- I love the museum.
- Not overly fond of the neediness of my neighbors.
- Shooting balloons with the slingshot is almost futile for me.
- It's cool getting new fruit and growing new trees.
- Tom Nook is a price gouger.
- That mole Lyle is creepy as hell.
- Whenever I see a bug in my yard now, I mentally reach for a net.
- I almost want a 3DS now so I can play New Leaf.
I also wonder where it is that Tortimer goes when he's not out and about for festive occasions. I mean, does he have an underground bunker underneath Town Hall? Does he even live in the town that he's mayor of? Should we hold a special election to have him recalled?
I'm going to check in on Nu Haba, catch a few bugs and maybe a fish or two, and then shut it down and go do real life things. It's a beautiful day outside and I have things to do. Nu Haba will still be there later, even if it fills up with weeds and cockroaches infest my house again.
Courtney is borderline obsessed with New Leaf right now. If you happen to get a 3DS, let her know and you two can swap friend codes and play together!
It probably won't be any time soon. I had to spend the money I was saving on an air conditioner last month.
Nu Haba seems like a chill place to live. Those games sound really interesting, but I haven't made the leap into them yet. They seem insane though. I like how they're kind of "living" games.
Matt, I think you'd really like the Animal Crossing games. And it sounds like they may have tweaked some of the issues I have with the game in New Leaf. You can visit other peoples' towns, too.
I always look past the Animal Crossing games when I scour the databases for new titles, but I wonder sometimes if I wouldn't actually really like them. I've played some similar games but not with a always running clock like that. Your description of the things you do in the game has me interested. I want to collect bugs and put things in a museum too. I think I'm going to have to add it to my list.
They're a lot of fun, I'm surprised you haven't tried one of them before now. I have the original AC for the Game Cube, as well as Wild World for the DS. Like I said, though, they can become an obsession if you're not careful.
Nu Haba is a great name. lol
And fifty bonus points if you can figure out the real life spelling.
New Harbor?
Very good. You can come to Maine and you might be able to understand us, lol.
I had no trouble when I visited Boston, so I think we'll be ok. lol
My wife has it for the GC and DS. I never really got into the games, for fear of loosing to much time in them.lol.
Oh, Larry. That may be a VERY wise decision on your part!
I've never played an AC game. It sounds like it can be addicting though. Do you need an intervention? I'm sure some of us Pixlbits can get together if it becomes too much to bear. 
Nah, Aaron. I think I'm OK...for now. Talk to me about it again in a week or two, lol.
I tried playing Wild World a couple months ago and I couldn't get into. I bought it years ago. I couldn't get into City Folk either. I hadn't been addicted to AC since the GC version. I could probably still put hours into that game. I hear the latest game is a lot better. I'll more than likely buy it too someday.
I had a hard time getting into the GC version. But I was working second shift at that time and nothing was ever open when I was awake.
Reasons Tami must buy a 3DS:
I'm not sure about Wild World but New Leaf does not require you to visit the town every day and if you pass an ordinance as mayor you can decree that your town will be beautiful. That makes the weeds almost non-existent and apparently prevents cockroach infestation. I visit daily anyway for at least an hour.
Now to address your comments:
- I love the museum.
The new museum is expandable and you can open up your own exhibit sections upstairs to display whatever you like.
- Not overly fond of the neediness of my neighbors.
Hey, the neighbours in New Leaf have given me some cool stuff for me grabbing them a cherry or something simple like that. No biggie. You can let them move away if you don't like them.
- Shooting balloons with the slingshot is almost futile for me.
The balloon furniture I've acquired from shooting down presents has rewarded me greatly. I put all that stuff on the flea market at retail and sell it for twice what it's worth. :)
- It's cool getting new fruit and growing new trees.
I currently have cherries, oranges, pears, persimmons and Coconuts growing in town. Over on the island there are bananas and durians. There are also perfect fruit which are worth more.
Plus there are others I haven't seen yet. Townsfolk will give you different fruits for doing their stupid tasks so that's a good thing.
- Tom Nook is a price gouger.
Tom is only involved in Real Estate now. Your best bet for buying and selling is Re-Tail run by a sheep and her husband. That's where the flea market is too.
- That mole Lyle is creepy as hell.
I'm not really familiar with Lyle.
- Whenever I see a bug in my yard now, I mentally reach for a net.
Yeah the neighbours don't take kindly to me digging holes in their gardens. Plus not being able to switch between multiple tools on the fly has me most irritated.
- I almost want a 3DS now so I can play New Leaf.
There is no almost about it Tami. *Grins evil grin*
The reason shooting down balloons with the slingshot is futile is because I can't hit the damn things!
Lyle is now exclusively running Happy Home Academy in Nook's Shop. You can look at 'em, but you really don't have to talk to him much. x)
I love your Maine Yankee accent. I played AC for the gamecube but then I gave it to Hagen from 1UP.
Aw, thanks, GH! I love your Mississippi accent, too. I still have my AC for the GC,
No...n-no, I'm not obsessed with Animal Crossing. Not at all.
What? Daftman has persimmons?!? GIMMIE!
It was your obsession that caused my obsession, just so you know. And I don't know if daftman has persimmons, but Mothman certainly does.
They should be on again in a couple of days Cary. I only have one tree at the moment. I need to do some organizing of my orchards and get rid of some of the non fruit bearing and cherry trees. Cherries are just too much work at 100 Bells apiece. Perfect cherries fetch 600 but I only have one or two trees.
I ended up getting the new AC when it was cheap, playing it for a week, then dropping it. I want to get back, but fear I will come back to a town where bugs have taken over, all the plants are dead, and the people are planning to overthrow me as the mayor.
If all else fails, wipe the slate clean and start over.
If you get a 3ds, I'll bring you coffee from my cafe!
just hearing more and more about this game makes me wonder why it has yet to find a social networking version. Sounds like it would fit in just fine with all those Farm/city ville games.
I know if I begin one of these games it will consume me. I may start off with the one for Gamecube,because I hear so many good things about it. Hey,if I can keep up with a virtual Springfield in Tapped Out I should be able to handle this one. The one for 3DS may be one I should try out as well.