The Gadgets Page

October 16, 2006

Nintendo DS: Animal Crossing Update

Filed under: Toys and Games — Laura Moncur @ 1:56 pm

Animal Crossing: Wild WorldIt has been two weeks since I first laid my hands on Animal Crossing and I’ve done a lot of obsessing over it. You can read my intial review here:

Firstly, the fish and bugs are not limited resources. If you fish too much, you will end up catching more boots and tires than fish. It’s just the game’s way of telling you to put down the game for awhile. The reason my nephew didn’t have beautiful butterflies floating in the air everywhere is because I was playing at midnight. I should have looked on the ground for all those crickets I was hearing. They weren’t just sound effects, each cricket song represents a critter you can nab.

The reason why Las Habras looked so desolate and dry compared to my nephew’s abundantly green landscape is because my nephew had been playing with the date on the game. His game is in July (and about to celebrate the fireworks display), so the grass is a strange green and blue mixture. Additionally, because he had played with the date feature, he was overgrown with weeds. What I had mistaken for beautiful greenery is actually a sign that he had been “time traveling.”

My House in Animal Crossing

If you pay off your house, you automatically get upgraded to a bigger house, even if you tell Tom Nook, the store manager, that you don’t want a bigger house. He thinks you’re just joking and builds you a new one anyway (complete with bigger mortgage). Strangely, I am able to enjoy the bigger house AND pay my “tithing” to the museum. The first of anything that I catch goes to the museum and all the rest goes to Tom Nook. I still leave the bugs alone, but that’s because they don’t bring in a lot of money and I really like to see the butterflies floating by.

It didn’t take me long until I was reeled into the materialism of the game. In fact, I like shopping in Animal Crossing far more than I do in real life. I found the group of furniture that appeals to my sense of utilitarianism the most and I have been madly collecting everything with the word “Ranch” in its name. I don’t have a house big enough to hold all of my furniture, so I’m storing it until I upgrade. My upgraded house will be done tomorrow. Tom Nook promised me.

The Able Sisters Tailor ShopYou can design clothing for the game. I thought it was a silly feature and felt ripped off that I spent 350 Bells (money) for the privilege of designing without getting money for the designs that the villagers are wearing, but I tell ya, the second I saw one of my beloved animal friends wearing that design, I rushed to Able Sisters to fill their store. Now, all the animals are wearing shirts with big M’s on them. The M is for Merriton, the town name, by the way, NOT Moncur, like my nephew thought when he saw them.

Deena the Duck from Animal CrossingMost importantly, I am strangely in love with all the characters in the game. They have a weird AI that is both repetitive and surprisingly random. They will ask you to give them new catchphrases. If they are cool enough, the catchphrases pass on like slang within communities does. I told Deena, my adorable duck friend, to say “AFLAC” after every sentence, now half my town is using that phrase. It’s really weird to hear a squirrel say “AFLAC.”

Agent S from Animal CrossingSaddest of all, I think I love this game because I’m so lonely. The game actually fools my brain into thinking I’ve socialized with people. Because I work at home, I no longer have any coworkers to commiserate with. I have been struggling with this loneliness for a few months now, but suddenly, I have a pocket full of friends that love me. All they need is a little bit of my time every day. Why aren’t real friends like that?

If you have been playing Animal Crossing and feel a little at a loss with all the things in the town to do, here are some excellent resources:

I found the FAQs on the Gamespot site to be the most helpful.

36 Comments

  1. HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE ANIMAL CROSSING

    Comment by george — May 2, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

  2. I have animal crossing and i have to agree with everything you said. I find it very hard though, because I never get as far as I want to get. Help meee!!!!

    Comment by Rags — June 19, 2007 @ 9:12 am

  3. I’ve had Animal Crossing for half a year now and discovered many different clever things about the game. I say buy it and try it out for yourself!

    Comment by LittleMissLily — June 25, 2007 @ 7:57 am

  4. Animal Crossing is cool, I have the gamecube and ds version I like the ds one because there is more stuff added in IT’S THE BEST GAME!

    Comment by Me — July 19, 2007 @ 8:09 am

  5. I CANT WAIT TILL ANIMAL CROSSING WII COMES OUT I’LL Play all day and all night on my wii!! :) Yay!

    Comment by aclova — July 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am

  6. this game is awsome i have nookingtons and a mansion

    Comment by shivvydivvy — August 28, 2007 @ 1:18 pm

  7. i love this game im gotnto play at nookes evry day .

    Comment by steph from charley — October 3, 2007 @ 9:18 pm

  8. come to my town ill be ther all day sunday ds tods

    Comment by steph from charley — October 6, 2007 @ 6:15 pm

  9. I have had this game for a long while but I never got far because I cant help but restart! lol! =) I think you did a great job and also, I am glad you posted this. I have hell with making friends at school so I have about eight here! lol! =D andyhow! Thanks allot for making this!

    Comment by Shadow_Creature — November 2, 2007 @ 8:11 pm

  10. Alright dude…. again, I didnt want to do this but you are THE !!!! STUPIDEST !!!! person I have ever heard, come on man the game doesnt have to be your life you are making it that you need to get out and exchange words with humans. I’ll give you a tip, go to a club and scope out girls and then talk to one and get laid! That is a good idea.

    Comment by Robert — November 12, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

  11. Robert, I guess you didn’t read the byline. I’m female. I don’t want to scope out girls at a club, as appealing as that might sound to you, it falls flat for me. I’m also 38 years old. I wrote that article over a year ago, and strangely, I STILL enjoy playing Animal Crossing every day. It’s a calm respite to an otherwise chaotic life. Not everyone is the same. Just because you didn’t enjoy Animal Crossing, doesn’t mean that anyone who does needs a life. It means that we are all different. I’m wishing you the best and I hope you are able to find a game that you enjoy as much as I enjoy Animal Crossing. Best, Laura

    Comment by Laura Moncur — November 13, 2007 @ 5:06 pm

  12. I feel so sorry for you that that ignorant person was criticizing you and doesn’t seem to have even read the article. I totally understand what you mean, though. I may only be 13, but I know that the majority of the time it is much easier to interact with a game such as Animal Crossing than it is to speak to someone’s face. I don’t think that is stupid at all. I myself have played Animal Crossing for Gamecube for a few years now and I still get a kick out of it. Oh, and Robert: you should try putting yourself in other peoples’ shoes before you make comments like that. That is what makes people “stupid” if you ask me. >:( Best wishes to you, Loopie (And may you have an enjoyable upcoming holiday season!)

    Comment by Loopie — November 28, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

  13. Loopie, Don’t worry. Robert and I had a personal talk on email and he is actually a really nice guy. He apologized and it’s all cool now. Thanks for defending me, Laura

    Comment by Laura Moncur — November 28, 2007 @ 8:56 pm

  14. Animal Crosssing is so cool! I have made my house bigger, but I haven’t been bovered to pay it off! I’m trying to grow coconut trees!

    Comment by Laura — November 30, 2007 @ 2:48 pm

  15. i really like animal crossing cos i found out how to do all these cool things. my friend is coming and we’re going to connect or something like that. in her town she has peaches on her trees and i have pears so im gonna grow a peach tree and coconuts and apple trees. my mum gave me an apple but i accidently sold it (whoopsy dasey)!

    Comment by Jesstar — December 18, 2007 @ 5:18 pm

  16. its my bithday soon haha its 2morrow (YAY)i might get a phone (YES) or i-pod nano or DS and Animal Crossing with my birthday and christmas money also everyone at my school is sad cos those 4 boys that died on the westcate bridge were from my school and my 2nd cousin knew them (BOOHOO).

    Comment by hahaha — December 18, 2007 @ 5:22 pm

  17. I’m not getting my nintendo ds until next year, and i don’t know if im even getting animal crossing. But i’ve played it on two of my friends ds’s, and i’m already better than the both of them. my friend said the most she’s ever had in bells was 16 234. by the end of the day (she stayed for only two hours) she had 123 912 bells.

    Comment by Pooky — December 25, 2007 @ 6:06 am

  18. who ever that robert guy is, don’t you know that this web page is open for children to see? and, uh, i think by now kids would know what getting laid means.

    Comment by Pooky — December 25, 2007 @ 6:10 am

  19. Hey! May I know what’s the building behind your house? Is it one of the animal’s? Cos it looks cool with this glass door look-alike.. :)

    Comment by Dots — February 6, 2008 @ 12:06 pm

  20. Yes, it was an animal’s house. Once you got closer to it, though, the door doesn’t look transparent anymore. Just a normal door.

    Comment by Laura Moncur — February 7, 2008 @ 10:13 am

  21. Hi I have one question. What do I do with pitfall seeds. I can not figure it out. I have planted them but they do not grow. Please help I have about sixty of them and I am affaid to give them away. I send all my friends letters and write bulletins and no one will help me. Thank you so much.

    Comment by Renie — March 6, 2008 @ 10:46 pm

  22. Renie, As far as I can tell, pitfall seeds are only for jokes. You can plant them in a bunch of places and when you have friends visit your town using WiFi, you can use them to make them fall into the pit. I haven’t really enjoyed this type of entertainment, but I know a bunch of others who really have. Also, if an animal you don’t like falls into the pit, it’s kind of funny to try to talk to them. They say the funniest things. The first time I saw an animal fall into a pitfall seed trap, it was Elvis, my favorite. I ran over to him to help him out and he said something like, “Blaargh! What’s happening to me?!” Even though I like Elvis so much, it makes me laugh to remember that. Sadly, you can’t help them out of the hole, but they get out on their own soon enough. Making someone or one of your animal friends won’t help you in the game, but it also won’t hurt you. I think you should get some bad Feng Shui for a while if an animal falls into a pitfall seed that you planted, but that’s just me. Mostly, I just dig them up so I won’t fall into them. It’s really annoying to be running to shoot down a balloon and end up trapped in a pit. I put the pitfall seeds into lost and found rather than selling them to Nook for nothing, but I’ve never seen an animal take one out of lost and found and use it themselves. Mostly, they are just a harmless prank for fun. Wishing you the best, Laura Moncur

    Comment by Laura Moncur — March 7, 2008 @ 10:35 am

  23. Laura Moncur, Thank you so much for answering me about the pitfall seeds. I was not sure what they were for and I did not want to get rid of them until I knew. So I guess I can get rid of them now, I only have fifty or so. I just kept thinking what if they are something and I was afraid to take the chance. Thanks again, I just starting playing in January and never player a video game before. I am hooked, and if I have any other questions I will be right back here. Renie

    Comment by Renie — March 9, 2008 @ 6:16 pm

  24. Elvis is at my village now. He is leaving nooo. Someones going to get him now.

    Comment by Angela — March 15, 2008 @ 5:30 pm

  25. i love animal crossing ive had it since the day it came out and have gone off and on it but i have to say it’s one of the best games on the nintendo ds ever. You could only beat if you brought another animal crossing out and listened to what other people say would make the game that little bit better.

    Comment by amy — April 18, 2008 @ 2:37 pm

  26. PLEASE READ THIS IT WILL HELP……… I LOVE ANIMAL CROSSING i finally got the golden shovel,all you need to do is have two shovels and use one in your hands,bury the other one and then leave it for 8 days and dig it up……ITS GOLDEN.If you bury money with the golden shovel then it will grow to a tree and will grow money that you can just shake of.

    Comment by kayleigh — June 2, 2008 @ 2:25 am

  27. i love animal crossing, i even made a folder for it and included lot’s of things in it like fish, clothes, people who live there etc… i think that the most saddest thing is that some of my favourite residents leave. i always plan for what i am going to on animla crossing but i end up doing something else!!! ANIMAL CROSSING IS THE BEST!!!

    Comment by bianca — July 22, 2008 @ 7:31 am

  28. i love animal crossing! i was wondering if anyone knew how long it takes to get your house upgrade, i paid off my second mortgage mebbe 3rd but nothing happened? is there a wait period/

    Comment by claire — July 30, 2008 @ 12:15 am

  29. claire, You have to go talk to Nook to agree to have him build you a bigger house. Laura

    Comment by Laura Moncur — July 30, 2008 @ 8:02 am

  30. Do You Have Pictures of Jeremiah,Twiggy,Pinky,Bree,Sally,Whitney,Boone,Poncho,and Hopper? They Are My Favorite Animals in the Game and its also made me start to like other animals besides Zebras,Rhinos,and Seahorses. Also,my First three animals were Deena,Pinky,And Jeremiah.

    Comment by Chris — November 29, 2008 @ 12:59 pm

  31. hi i got last upgrade on house yay the best animal friend is ruby the rabbit and what can you do with tyres and cans.i have also basically completed the game the hair salon is class

    Comment by kate — December 3, 2008 @ 11:14 am

  32. I just throw the tires and cans away in the Recycle Bin. I tried giving the tire to Gracie (thinking she might need it for her car), but that didn’t work, so I just threw them away. I also tried to put the boot on (like how you put clothes on), but that didn’t work either. I think they are just garbage that needs to be disposed of.

    Comment by Laura Moncur — December 4, 2008 @ 7:10 am

  33. i play animal crossing: city folk on the wii, and i absolutly love it! im addicted to all the characters in my town! hehe, i just upgraded my house, and i want to know some awesome cheats so can you please tell me some if you know any for that version?? thank you breezy

    Comment by breezy — February 2, 2009 @ 9:54 pm

  34. omg iv had anww for four-five years now and im still now bored off it, im OBSESSED! and like you i have hardly any friends either, but im in seniour school, it sucks! but hey animal crossing man!! <3

    Comment by molly — April 17, 2009 @ 1:16 pm

  35. Im new to animal crossing and woundering how long tell I get out of the hole I fell into? P.S. Its a fun game :)

    Comment by Ronnita — May 19, 2009 @ 7:24 am

  36. I ♥ animal crossing. Best game there is for the DS hands down. :) Goldie was my favorite neighbor but she moved…. :( She was my favorite animal in the whole game, but oh well. That’s something I don’t like about having friends in your friend roster is that your animals are always moving to your friend’s towns and animals are always coming from your friend’s towns… :P Also, I have the mansion! :D By the by, to get different kinds of fruits (fruits that aren’t the fruits in your town), you have to send a letter to all of your animal friends saying “Here is a fruit gift.” Then, attach your native fruit (The fruit thats in your town)to the letter as a present. Then, wait a day, and you should get a present form a few of them that is a different fruit besides the one you have in your town. :O plant a tree of the fruit you got and when the tree grows shake the fruit off and each fruit should be about 500 bells each. :D

    Comment by Goldie — February 1, 2010 @ 6:48 pm

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