Zero Punctuation: Animal Crossing: New Leaf

[Darth_Payn]

Animal Crossing has always and will always be a terrible Skinner Box game that the sheep enjoy.

I suppose we should all at least be grateful you didn't use "sheeple".

OT: This review came two and a half weeks too late for me. Damn you, you filthy raccoon, why can't I stop buying house upgrades? And why am I the only one paying for my fountain? It'll benefit everyone!

Or that he told us to "WAKE UP" as well. But riddle me this: do the people who think like that actually get suckered in to believing a different fabricated reality?

Embrace Animal Crossing: New Leaf! Animal Crossing is the new religion! Debt is your life! Worship the raccoon mobster!

Gotta love a Zero Punctuation episode when its referencing The Prisoner and portrays a raccoon as a leg-breaking mobster. XD

tell me about it. now i want "the prisoner" game... FEAR THE BEACH BALL !!!

Remember the Simpsons tribute to the Prisoner? "Why did you think a big balloon would stop him?" "Shut up! That's why."

 

[Dominic Crossman]

I don't understand. This is good, but the last of us bad.
I do understand people have different tastes from me but I don't see how something like this is so popular.
Sigh... I must be getting old and cranky.

 

[FallenMessiah88]

So, you don't play Animal Crossing? Animal Crossing plays you?

This is not really my type of game. It seems like the older AC games were more fitting more me. I'd rather be some random dude just minding his own business than a random dude who has to look after everyone else's business.

 

[DugMachine]

Animal Crossing has always and will always be a terrible Skinner Box game that the sheep enjoy.

Wow you're edgy. Skinner box lol, what game isn't a skinner box in the long run? I mean honestly.

On topic; I've never played Animal Crossing. Watched a friend play it and it didn't seem appealing but I'm sure if I played it I'd be hooked. No money for that game anyhow.

 

[geizr]

Sounds like a lot of grinding. I thought Yahtzee hated grinding games.

 

[LightningBanks]

I remember loving the Gamecube version and playing it almost every day for nearly a year, then I ended up buying the DS version and eventually Wii version but didn't actually get around to playing either too much and sorta forgot about them. I'd go and try them out again but honestly I'm a little scared at what I might find in my wake.

Animal Crossing is really the only game I can think of that makes you feel genuinely guilty for not playing.

I feel the same, I stopped playing new Leaf because I took my vita on the go with me over my 3DS thanks to Ninja Gaiden on ps plus. Im too scared to go back. Being the mayor doesn't help that guilt either.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

The last line gave me a hearty chuckle.

Now on the game at hand, I really don't get the appeal of the game. It seems like a game similar to farm ville with daily quests. Am I missing something? I'm already doing that in WoW, but out of routine and nothing else.

Now that I think about it, it seems to be using the same methods to keep people coming back; the whole "wait until tommorow" part just prolonging the game's life tremendously.

 

[geldonyetich]

Animal Crossing has always and will always be a terrible Skinner Box game that the sheep enjoy.

I don't think you've had enough replies yet.

Actually, I think you're partly right here, but you're slightly off. Yes, Animal Crossing has multiple achievement mechanics built in, so it's as a pretty accomplished skinner's box. However, I don't think it's a terrible one because the game is actually quite laid back. You don't feel a pressing need to Get! That! Next! House! Upgrade! Right! Now!, and this makes it actually significantly less potent than something like World of Warcraft. In Animal Crossing can relax, you can take your time, the fun actually is in the journey and not getting your hands on the next McGuffin or level.

So, is it a Skinner's box? Sure.

Is it a terrible Skinner's box? In my definition, no, I've seen much worse.

Is it a terrible Skinner's box for sheeple? Well, now, was that really necessary? As a person who is generally nonconformist in mannerisms who is nonetheless playing this game, I think I'm proof enough it's not exclusively for sheeple. You probably should have listened to the friendly voice in your head that suggested maybe you've over-extrapolated to the point where you're being a bit of a jerk now before you hit the submit button, instead of telling everybody who read this thread who also plays Animal Crossing that they're sheeple.

 

[Nexxis]

I've never played the game myself, personally. Heck, I didn't even know how popular the game was until I was at an event and saw a large group of people huddled around in a corner with their faces glued to their 3DS screens checking the prices of their turnips for the day. I wish I was kidding. A friend of mine tried to explain the game to me, but I didn't find it all that exciting. However, the game seems infectious for whatever reason but I'll avoid it as it doesn't catch my interest. Still, I'd show great concern if Animal Crossing players walked around chanting "One of Us"

 

[Annihilist]

The Bends is a great album, isn't it?

I have to say it, I don't know why it gets so much praise. Most songs from it are above average alt-rock songs, nothing too spectacular. Kid A is the great one.

On topic: I'm waiting for some more retrospectives, hopefully we'll get some more soon enough.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

All I got from this is that I'm better off giving The Sims 3 another go. Same unexplainably addictive qualities, zero time constraints.

Plus ALL THE EXPANSHUNS! I TOTALLY WANT 3D MODELS APPROVED BY KATY PERRY!

Blah, fuck EA. Seriously.

 

[mew4ever23]

New leaf. You bought new leaf. After saying that Pokemon was for mad people. And writing THIS [http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/reviews/animalcrossing.htm].

Criticizing a game for collection, and getting another that does collection, in a bigger way, where the collection has no context.

You confuse me sometimes, Croshaw.

 

[daxterx2005]

Yahtzee! Why would you rip that dogs head off? D:

 

[Scarecrow]

New leaf. You bought new leaf. After saying that Pokemon was for mad people. And writing THIS [http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/reviews/animalcrossing.htm].

Criticizing a game for collection, and getting another that does collection, in a bigger way, where the collection has no context.

You confuse me sometimes, Croshaw.

...reviewing is his job, you know. This game is very, very popular, so it makes sense that he would review it. We may never know if he would have brought it for himself.

And you don't always need context to produce a fun experience. Most of the time you just need a feeling of accomplishment...and sometimes not even that, if the collecting is fun and rewarding in it's own little way.

 

[Antitonic]

This was actually much less restrained than I expected. It could've gone much, much worse [http://lparchive.org/Animal-Crossing/].

 

[Ashcrexl]

sooo, basically you are a Yeerk Controller?

 

[Hutzpah Chicken]

So Yahtzee, you are the new number 7. What happened to the old number 7, you ask? You are the new number 7.

 

[Lightknight]

Ah, furthering my sentiment that Nintendo is most relevant in the handheld market (as opposed to the console market) if even Yahtzee has good things to say about Nintendo products there.

sooo, basically you are a Yeerk Controller?

You went Animorphs on us? Interesting.

 

[McMarbles]

So, you don't play Animal Crossing? Animal Crossing plays you?

This is not really my type of game. It seems like the older AC games were more fitting more me. I'd rather be some random dude just minding his own business than a random dude who has to look after everyone else's business.

[insert "Een Soviet Russia" joke here]

It's not a game for everybody. But like Jim (and THANK GOD for him) says, that's the trouble these days... every game tries to be for everybody.

 

[carpathic]

There is something to say to the idea that our obligations are what keep us going in the end. I've never played the game, but it is a curious way to start and almost has grabbed my attention.

Wonder if it comes for Wii?

It already exist an Animal Crossing game for the wii called Animal Crossing City Folk(US)/Let's Go To The City(EU)

Good to know. perhaps I'll pick it up. Thank you for the hot tip!