Entry Archive: February 6, 2006
World
Since our poor planet has entered such a horrifying state of affairs, I have decided to trade-up.
Instead of wasting time in this violent, polluted, hateful place... I will instead be spending the rest of my days surrounded by beautiful scenery and wonderful sights. A world of opportunity and adventure. A land where I won't have to worry about getting knifed on my way to work or having my car shot up. A country where the people are kind, decent, and hard working...
...well, not actual people, but animals that kind of act like people. Kind of.
I am talking, of course, about the world of Animal Crossing inside my Nintendo DS...
Animal Crossing is an awesome "life simulation" where you can work, explore, shop, make friends, grow fruit, go fishing, catch bugs, build a home, experiment with feng shui, celebrate holidays, collect furniture, patronize a museum, hunt for treasure, design clothes, create art, and all the other things that make life so great. All tax and disease-free!
I am seriously addicted, even though I don't have much time to play it. But that's okay, because even when I'm not playing, I'm thinking about it. Right now I have my heart set on earning enough money to expand my house so I can decorate it with pirate furniture and some cool skull-and-crossbones wallpaper I made.
It' a fun place to waste time. And nice to look at too, thanks to the sweet graphics...
Probably the coolest thing about the game is that it is wi-fi enabled so you can invite people to your town over the internet. That way, they can come take a look at what you've done, and even trade stuff or give gifts! For example, my town had all pear trees... but thanks to somebody playing in New Jersey who visited me, I was able to trade for some peaches, plant them, and so now I have peach trees growing as well. Now I need to find somebody who has apples, oranges, coconuts, and cherries so I can add a little variety to the landscape.
If you have a Nintendo DS, it's a game well worth picking up. To learn more about Animal Crossing, you can visit the Official Nintendo Site, Animal Crossing Ahead, or Animal Crossing Community.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've decided to blow-off work today so I can go hunt for buried treasure!
Comments
I can never understand "life simulation" games - and since Animal Crossing's world is pretty far removed from reality those quotation marks are very necessary.
My brother loves these games though.
Meanwhile I try, unsuccessfully, to shoe horn these games into one of the game genres I'm used to, just so I can get the point to it all.
"So I can't shoot the dog? What's he for then? Does he have a key? Or a task for me? And how come the shop doesn't sell guns, cars or potions? What the hell kind of shop is that?"
Still, it's good that these sorts of games (and the DS) are getting new people interested in games.
One of my friends has a DS (one for him and another for his son). They play this Animal Crossing game a lot. They say it's really cool to play and a lot of fun.
As for me, I've got my Game Boy Micro with Advance Wars. The rest of my game playing gets devoted to the PSP, where Namco Museum takes top spot for portable gaming.
You play some odd games on your DS. About the only thing saving you right now is knowing that you also like Lego Star Wars, Mario Kart, and that Pirates game.
This and that puppy game?
I have Animal Crossing for my GameCube. I haven't played it for ages. I bet the whole town is covered in weeds (which happens if you don't visit for a long time). I'm almost afraid to put it back in the machine :)
Dude.
It's time to put, the, Nintendo, down.
Yes, Pauly and I only want what's best for you. Don't leave! It's not an intervention!
I see a made-for-TV movie, kinda like that really bad one that Tom Hanks was in based on that Rona Jaffe book from the early 80's? Mazes and Monsters? Because they'd have gotten sued if they just called it Dungeons and Dragons? Anyway, Tom Hanks got so involved in the game that he wound up going smooth bug-nuts and maybe killing a guy. And then he believed he was his character for the rest of his life, apparently.
Oh, well, at least if that happens, in your own mind you will be happily passing the days at Animal Crossing.
I want to play this! "Dave" fits in real good with this game too.
Ash: Life simulations are cool to me because it's an opportunity to have some fun without dying every 10 minutes (as is the case when I play other games). In Animal Crossing I am addicted to trying to complete the bug, fish, and fossil collection, all while expanding my house to hold the crap I've collected. He who dies with the most toys wins, even in a video game!
ChillyWilly: I love Advance Wars... and recently ordered up the DS version, which I am anxious to play. It's one of the best strategy games I've ever played (at least until StarCraft comes to the Nintento DS!).
Kapgar: I like games where I don't die if I accidentally fall off a box or open a door. This leaves me mostly with simulation games, puzzle games, and strategy games. Lego Star Wars is an exception, because it's not too difficult. Maybe I should buy more kids games?
Troy: I had Animal Crossing GameCube as well... and the DS version is much the same. The big difference is the WiFi connection, which is really sweet.
Pauly: Not just now... I am really close to being able to afford a new chair for my house!
Belinda: That sounds like a bizarre movie... which has me strangely curious. I've never even heard of it before. Tom Hanks you say?!?
Melina: Dave fits in real good just about anywhere. :-)
reminds me of Sims2...
Yes, seriously. It might have been made for TV. It was called "Mazes and Monsters," same as the book. Tom plays one of a group of college students who play "THE GAME" (duh-duh-duhhhhhh). He gets more and more involved, his grades suffer, he loses his girlfriend, flunks out of school, and ultimately goes nuts, thinking he is "the cleric" in real life. All because of THE GAME. This was back when parents were panicked about D&D, likening it to devil-worship and cultism. Little did they know, wew were just nerds.
I have not stopped playing since I got it!!! We will have to trade info and visit sometime.
animal crossing is the best! i had payed off almost all of my debts to nook, had a huge house, lots of fish, bugs and the like, then i went to visit my wife's family during my christmas break and her little cousin stole my ds with animal crossing in it......i'm so depressed....still...
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