I like videogames. But I’m kind of picky about which games I want to play; I’m not that into intracat adventure maps; I’m not a big fan of shooters or sports games; multiplayer isn’t my thing either. I like the kind of games that are very relaxing, where the player can go at their own pace. I like collecting things in game to reach a goal. I like interacting with characters and NPCs. Mostly, though, I like being able to go at my own pace, and delving into the virtual world.
Probably the most popular and most relaxing of video games that fall into my very specific tastes is none other than Animal Crossing. For those who don’t know, Animal Crossing is a game where you, a new villager, move into a town and start your new life among strangely-colored animals. Depending on the game, you can start out with a part-time job, paying off your home from Tom Nook.
Why would you want to play a game like this? Well, because, it’s familiar. It’s very similar to the world we live in, but with enough simple differences to make it fun. Imagine catching a goldfish in the river and then donating it to the local museum, with your name hung on the exhibit wall. Imagine selling a bug you caught in the morning for five hundred dollars. Imagine being able to talk to animals!! That’s a world I’d like to live in.
What’s the end goal of this game? Well, there really isn’t one. No one “wins” Animal Crossing. Sometimes the goal is to just collect literally everything you can; in order to have the best house, with matching furniture; or to donate everything to the museum, until all the exhibits are full; or working to make the village you live in fit your own personal tastes. Really, you just keep playing; there’s no end. And if you lose interest, you move on to something else. The game will always be there, and when you return to the game, all of your neighbors are always excited to see you once more!
The newest addition to the Animal Crossing game line is a mobile app that’s called Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. It’s currently unavailable in the US, but it has been released in some places around the world, and they love it. It’s supposed to be available for the US in “late November”, well, I’ve waited over a week and I still don’t have it yet. What’s the deal, Nintendo?
