Animal Crossing Flashcards
What game are we studying?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Context for Animal Crossing? Who made it? Other versions?
Animal crossing was developed and published by Nintendo. The series has run for over 20 years, original game produced in 2001.
When was Animal Crossing: New horizons released?
Initially announced for the Nintendo Switch in 2018 but wasn’t released until March 2020.
Statistic for higher sales?
It is the First console game to reach five million digital sales within a month.
What award did the game win in 2020?
The Best Family Game - at The Game Awards 2020
How did sales compare to other versions of Animal Crossing?
Eclipsed the lifetime sales of all past instalments within its first six weeks. Became the second-best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch system.
How many billion did New Horizons gross in its first year of March 2021?
$2 billion
What is PEGI?
The video games industry classifying board.
What rating/ certification does New Horizons have?
PEGI 3 - this means content is deemed as suitable for all age groups. And the game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence is acceptable.
Sandbox game?
American term, suggests that the game has no instructions and you can shape it yourself to whatever you want .
Examples of the influence of social media? Twitter, TikTok
-Animal Crossing saw 71% rise in overall conversation on Twitter after the release of New Horizons
-July 2020, #animalcrossing had a total of 3.2 billion views on TikTok
How was New Horizons marketed?
-Budget friendly, virtual marketing
-User generated content
-US House Representative - Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez, carried out virtual ‘house calls’ by visiting the islands of Us Citizens and interacting with them
-Brands amongst Marc Jacobs + Valentino showcased collections on the game
-KFC Philippines created a KFC island, allowing guests to win real life menu items + vouchers
-Celebrities also began posting about their experiences when playing new horizons, which generates publicity for the game
When the release date of ACNH was delayed, stock price dropped by _%
When the release date of ACNH was delayed, stock price dropped by 3%
Why was release pushed back? Where announced? Why is this significant?
1) To ensure Nintendo employee welfare.
2) E3 Conference 2019
3) Significant; as massive capitalist company willing to do this for their colleagues
How did the release push back positively influence sales?
-Released during Covid - 19
-Pandemic forced people indoors with higher levels of disposable income due to furlough and inability to spend on normal activity
Outline Nintendo’s business model
-Vertically integrated as they keep the development of games in-house
-This maximises profit and maintains market exclusivity + attracts a loyal gamer fanbase
Gender of game makers?
-Half developers male and half females
-Even gender split = appeals to both genders
A03 = binary idea of gender
Nintendo as a company?
-Aim to provide a fun experience
-Ethical values
-Inclusive representation
-Workers interests
-Pre-dates the Digital world e.g. card playing
-Worth $2.111Billion
-Began 1889
How did Nintendo re-position audiences when they were turned off gaming in the 80s?
Re-positioned games as toys.
Outline the E3 conference
-the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2019
-was where publishers, hardware manufacturers etc of the game presented and previewed new updates + upcoming products
-No longer happens anymore
Political context
-BLM protests in game
Which age group are the most common players of AC
-20 to 30 year olds
-this challenges our traditional preconceptions of who gamers are (teenage boys)
What did ACNH offer players in 2020?
-offers choice + control due to sandbox nature of game
-escapism from a destabilising and frightening time - with announcements of daily death tolls
-a travel game when players are unable to travel
-international appeal due to gibberish voices - no need for translation
Outline gameplay of ACNH
-sandbox nature of game: complete freedom for players to spend their time as they choose
-postmodernists: ‘the line between AC life and real life is blurring’
-AC follows the circadian rhythms of real time - its based on a real 24H clock + follows the seasons in the players chosen hemisphere
What are the audience experiences of AC
-socialising with friends through collaborative joint projects
-an escape for those w/ mental health issues - “it has given me back some life joy that i thought i had lost forever”
-sense of community
-immersion
-creative outlet
-achievement
Format of AC
The game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite
Distribution of game?
Versions of the game can be purchased as a cartridge or a download code.
What are DLCs
= means Downloadable content
Add-ons including subscriptions and bonus content
West is an example of a DLC?
Happy Home Paradise DLC you are in charge of inviting characters as clients and helping them live out their own dream vacations
Critical Reception? Facts!
Well received
-13th best selling game of all time
-Amazon (4.8 out of 5)
-BAFTA award in 2022 (Best evolving Game)
Outline the game?
-Player = tasked with bringing civilisation to a deserted island
-Player = starts out with a Shelter and some basic tools
-To begin building their dram town - they’ll need to hunt, collect, save
-Few set missions in game - but mostly have the freedom to do everything at their own speed.
Follows a circadian rhythm
What does it mean that Animal Crossing follows a circadian rhythm
- follows real-world day
-only be able to collect creature that come out in the morning
-Similarly, at night all the shops will be shut + most fellow islanders gone to bed
In what way in ACNH accessible to young users
-Circadian rhythm
-AC doesn’t offer micro-transactions or loot boxes
-No way to speed up game - player must wait until next real-world day - teaches children to be patient and naturally divides gaming sessions into chunks
Issues of only being able to save one game per console?
Might cause trouble if children are sharing a Switch Console (or adults)
Is it a single-player game
No
-Mainly focuses on single player elements but some features allow you to visit other players’ islands, vice versa
Give examples of multi-player features
-Party Play = allows unto 4 users to play on the same island using one Switch console and one copy of the game.
-Joy-con would be needed for each player
What is wireless play?
Lets unto eight people play on the same island - but using their own Switch and copy of the game
-For it to work all players must be in the same room.
What is online play?
A) Single subscription = £17.99 a year
Family subscription = £31.49 a year
B) only access wireless or online play after playing for 2 days - you can visit island players on you friends list, or Ava them go to yours by going to Dodo airport.
C) Online play is compatible with
