Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gaming to Go: Animal Crossing: Wild World]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/gaming-to-go-animal-crossing-wild-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/gaming-to-go-animal-crossing-wild-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/gaming-to-go-animal-crossing-wild-world/#commentsFiled under:


'Tis a great week for gaming, isn't it? And, for the Animal Crossing addicts among us, it should be pretty freaking awesome. For the sad, strange readers who haven't been chain themselves to a monitor for the last few days, listen up: E3 recently brought word of the next installment in the series, albeit one primed and ready for Nintendo's white waggle box. But don't drop Animal Crossing: Wild World just yet -- there's still plenty of life in the game, even if you've paid off your house three times over and now get your jollies from planting pitfall seeds in front of your neighbors' doors.

That's a perfectly admirable pastime, sure, but Wild World offers plenty of snappy activities for a gamer on the go. In honor of this super special week and the new game on the way, Gaming to Go is adopting a slightly different format for your reading pleasure. You guys like lists, right? Well, buckle your seat belts, ladies and gents, and get ready for 5 Things You Can Do With Five Minutes in AC:WW!

Gallery: Animal Crossing: Wild World

Continue reading Gaming to Go: Animal Crossing: Wild World

JoystiqGaming to Go: Animal Crossing: Wild World originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal crossinganimalcrossingjoystiqfeaturessimulationThu, 17 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing teased in UK's Official Nintendo Magazine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/animal-crossing-teased-in-uks-official-nintendo-magazine/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/animal-crossing-teased-in-uks-official-nintendo-magazine/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/animal-crossing-teased-in-uks-official-nintendo-magazine/#commentsFiled under:


The first time we all saw big headed Mii's strolling around the plaza, we imagine we all had the same thought: Animal Crossing on the Wii is a lock. But here we are, a year-and-a-half after the system's release, and we still haven't gotten to use a Wiimote to rock with KK Slider. However, if we're reading a hint in UK's Official Nintendo Magazine right, the wait may nearly be over.

The magazine's latest issue features a still from the Animal Crossing-verse with the quote "It's been a while! It's time to revisit an old friend. How's your village doing these days?" Is that enough for us to bet on seeing a new Crossing game at E3? Yes. But it should also be known: We're addicted to gambling.

JoystiqAnimal Crossing teased in UK's Official Nintendo Magazine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossinge3-2008WiiThu, 03 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Want to hear every K.K. Slider song?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/want-to-hear-every-k-k-slider-song/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/want-to-hear-every-k-k-slider-song/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/want-to-hear-every-k-k-slider-song/#commentsFiled under: ,


At once? Then click the play button on the video above. But, be warned that this is ... well, it's weird.

Frankly, we don't understand why someone would do this. Sure, we want to hear every K.K. Slider song too, but we don't want to listen to them all at once.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqWant to hear every K.K. Slider song? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingAnimal-Crossing-DSanimal-crossing-wild-worldanimalcrossingk-k-sliderk.k.sliderkksliderNintendoNintendo-EADwild-worldWed, 09 Apr 2008 22:35:00 EST<![CDATA[So who is the greatest gaming canine ever?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/so-who-is-the-greatest-gaming-canine-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/so-who-is-the-greatest-gaming-canine-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/so-who-is-the-greatest-gaming-canine-ever/#commentsFiled under:

The results to one of the most interesting questions we've heard in quite awhile has come in and gaming's greatest canine is apparently Parappa from the Parappa the Rapper games. While we'll cross the divide that separates Nintendo and Sony handheld fanboys and admit that the Parappa games are great, we're a tad bit upset.

As you may recall from our original post on this topic of discussion, we were heavily in favor of K.K. Slider. We also considered the dog from Duck Hunt. But, Parappa? Eh, we don't agree. What about you all?

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqSo who is the greatest gaming canine ever? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingcaninedogduck-huntk-k-sliderkksliderparappaMon, 10 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Witness the greatest Animal Crossing cosplay ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/witness-the-greatest-animal-crossing-cosplay-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/witness-the-greatest-animal-crossing-cosplay-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/witness-the-greatest-animal-crossing-cosplay-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We're a bit torn between whether the above image is horrifying or brilliant. On the one hand, someone clearly drew massive eyebrows on this poor animal, whose uncanny likeness to Animal Crossing's resident musician K. K. Slider is certainly no fault of his (or her?) own.

On the other hand, someone did look at this dog, and realize that with the slightest modification they could create a most excellent cosplay. In either case, consider us in awe. Now all he/she needs is an adorable guitar, and a puppy-sized stool. But we suppose the poor thing's been through enough already.

[Via DS Fanboy]

JoystiqWitness the greatest Animal Crossing cosplay ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingcosplayDSGameCubeThu, 06 Mar 2008 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: The next great Nintendo franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/ds-daily-the-next-great-nintendo-franchise/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/ds-daily-the-next-great-nintendo-franchise/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/ds-daily-the-next-great-nintendo-franchise/#commentsFiled under:


So the DS has been on the receiving end of some great games from Nintendo's most popular franchises. We had the excellent Phantom Hourglass, the million-billion-selling New Super Mario Bros. and some solid installments in the Animal Crossing and StarFox franchises. But what's next?

Which one of Nintendo's franchises do you want to see hit the DS next? A new Punch-Out!!! game? Or what about the next installment in the Pikmin franchise? What would you like to see from Nintendo?

JoystiqDS Daily: The next great Nintendo franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingfranchisesnewsupermariobrosnintendophantomhourglasspikminstarfoxWed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What is the greatest canine in gaming history?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/what-is-the-greatest-canine-in-gaming-history/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/what-is-the-greatest-canine-in-gaming-history/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/what-is-the-greatest-canine-in-gaming-history/#commentsFiled under:

Tough question for some, easy question for the DS Fanboy staff: it has to be K.K. Slider! Come on, people! Any other idea is lacking any kind of reasonable evidence to support it, in light of Slider's diligence to his job (he never misses a Saturday night show!) and his knack for sticking it to the man. Not to mention how great the little guy looks on a bath towel!

Actually, maybe we're willing to entertain some of the entrants. Like, the dog in Duck Hunt, for example. He's a pretty important mutt in the gaming world, so we can understand his inclusion. Oh, and Link's wolf form in Twilight Princess is another good addition. And let's not forget the Nintendogs themselves!

What do you guys think? What are they missing in this list? What were you surprised to see? Who should win?

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqWhat is the greatest canine in gaming history? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingdogk-k-sliderk.k.sliderkksliderMon, 11 Feb 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing and Kirby coming to Japanese Wii in '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/animal-crossing-and-kirby-coming-to-japanese-wii-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/animal-crossing-and-kirby-coming-to-japanese-wii-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/animal-crossing-and-kirby-coming-to-japanese-wii-in-08/#commentsFiled under:

According to Nintendo financial documents, "social networking MMO" Animal Crossing and a new Kirby title will hit the Japanese Wii this year, along with some other notable titles. ShackNews posted the Nintendo financial docs showing that beyond Animal Crossing and Kirby, there is also Wii Music, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball, and Everyone's Common Knowledge Television -- that last one sounds like it might stay in Japan.

The document also shows that Mario Kart Wii is still expected for the spring in North America and Q2 for Europe, but there isn't much more beyond that at this time. That doesn't mean Nintendo doesn't have something up its sleeve, just that it isn't on this financial document from Nintendo Japan.

JoystiqAnimal Crossing and Kirby coming to Japanese Wii in '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingAnimal-Crossing-City-FolkAnimal-Crossing-MMOAnimal-Crossing-Wiianimalcrossinganimalcrossingwiikirbymario-kart-wiimariokartwiiNintendoNintendo-EADWiiTue, 29 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD says games help reduce stress, we say Animal Crossing soothes us]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/npd-says-games-help-reduce-stress-we-say-animal-crossing-soothes-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/npd-says-games-help-reduce-stress-we-say-animal-crossing-soothes-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/npd-says-games-help-reduce-stress-we-say-animal-crossing-soothes-u/#commentsFiled under:


NPD doesn't see fit to provide us just with monthly sales figures, apparently, as they also conduct research in their secret underground bunker. There, beakers full of bright, colorful liquid of an indiscernible nature and men and women in long white coats conduct experiments. Tirelessly disassembling current hardware on the shelves and occasionally injecting caged monkeys with unknown fluids, these vigilant smart types have come to a conclusion regarding the association between stress and video games.

According to the NPD, 63% of U.S. citizens play games. 30% of these gamers say they're playing more games than they did last year. Many also cite that games are a way to alleviate stress and help them unwind. We can understand it, because there is something almost zen-like in fishing in Animal Crossing: Wild World. Actually, just about everything in that game is calming and helps us unwind, even picking weeds.

JoystiqNPD says games help reduce stress, we say Animal Crossing soothes us originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingnpdstresszenWed, 12 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Terrible Secret of Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/the-terrible-secret-of-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/the-terrible-secret-of-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/the-terrible-secret-of-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under:

Have a free hour to waste? Spend it reading The Terrible Secret of Animal Crossing, a twisted tale put together by Chewbot and the Something Awful forums. It's a mixed media production -- consisting of text, screenshots, artwork, audio (radio series-style), and even a Flash animation -- broken into twelve parts.

Far from your run-of-the-mill fan fiction, The Terrible Secret is a captivating account of one boy's struggle to hold onto his sanity as he unravels the infernal mysteries governing the town that holds him prisoner. The story goes far beyond your typical "Tom Nook is a crook" plot, suggesting something much more sinister. Peek past the break for a larger version of the amazing promotional poster you see above.

See also: Trouble in Paradise: An Animal Crossing homecoming

Continue reading The Terrible Secret of Animal Crossing

JoystiqThe Terrible Secret of Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingparodytom-nookMon, 10 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's most tedious video: Picking weeds in Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/todays-most-tedious-video-picking-weeds-in-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/todays-most-tedious-video-picking-weeds-in-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/todays-most-tedious-video-picking-weeds-in-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Animal Crossing: Wild World for the DS loves guilting its players. Turn the game off before saving? Mr. Resetti shows up to give you a piece of his mind. Go several months without playing the game? Your once-beautiful town will be overrun with weeds that you'll have to pluck one by one if you want to re-beautify the landscape.

Today's video shows just how absurd this process can be. It reportedly took 35 non-stop minutes to remove all the weeds that had grown over eleven months of non-play. Still, our videographers aren't without compassion: to alleviate the sheer tedium of the process, a clever editer has chosen to depict the entire process "Benny Hill" style. You can still see how ridiculous it all is, but at least now you can giggle instead of pulling your hair out. Check out the wacky gardening antics after the break.

Update: Fixed the number of months.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Continue reading Today's most tedious video: Picking weeds in Animal Crossing

JoystiqToday's most tedious video: Picking weeds in Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimal-crossing-dsanimalcrossinganimalcrossingdsdshottest-videohottestvideotediumvotdMon, 26 Nov 2007 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't mess with Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/dont-mess-with-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/dont-mess-with-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/dont-mess-with-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under:


This video of a sped-up Animal Crossing cleanup initiative highlights one of the weirdest design decisions made for the game: weeds. We get the idea of encouraging the player to keep up a daily routine, but by punishing you for not playing, after a certain amount of time you no longer want to play the game again. We have long since exiled ourselves from our town, out of fear of facing a weed-infested wasteland, full of cute, yet angry neighbors who hate us for ruining their shot at getting that glasses case over to Admiral.

Of course, two minutes of pulling weeds would not be entertaining at all to watch if Games Radar hadn't applied the basic principles of British comedy, as exemplified by Benny Hill: 1) speed up footage and 2) overdub "Yakety Sax".

JoystiqDon't mess with Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingweedsyakety-saxSun, 25 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A heart-wrenching tale about Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/a-heart-wrenching-tale-about-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/a-heart-wrenching-tale-about-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/a-heart-wrenching-tale-about-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're not going to lie, this story moved us - not only for its content, but also because someone managed to use the YTMND format in a way that actually enhanced the storytelling process. This touching tale tells of the impact that Animal Crossing had on an ill family member. We don't want to spoil it, so check it out for yourself.

The story is from "a member in IGN" and illustrated by ONESOUND from This Is Game. If YTMND isn't your thing, you can also view a full-sized copy of the comic here and save it for later, or print it out and show your loved ones.

Update: As reader RySenkari has warned, the YTMND link had been "altered" to shy people away from the link, and the subsequent imagery was NSFW (try going to the site via Digg and you'll get an idea of what we're talking about). If you're sending this to family members or just don't want to risk seeing such things, we recommend either typing the URL in a separate window or just taking a look at the full-sized comic that we're hosting at the moment.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqA heart-wrenching tale about Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingGameCubemsmultiple-sclerosisnintendopolioytmndMon, 19 Nov 2007 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Edge: Animal Crossing Wii is a social networking MMO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/edge-animal-crossing-wii-is-a-social-networking-mmo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/edge-animal-crossing-wii-is-a-social-networking-mmo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/edge-animal-crossing-wii-is-a-social-networking-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Reputable European publication Edge magazine is reporting that the upcoming Animal Crossing for Nintendo Wii is indeed going the MMO route, as previously rumored by fellow Future Publishing siblings Next-Gen. "A Japanese source has confirmed to Edge that the upcoming Wii iteration of Animal Crossing is set to be a social networking MMO," reports the magazine.

No other details are known at the time, Nintendo has not provided any official confirmation. The article is found on page nine of the latest issue, which prominently features the PlayStation 3 on both the front and back covers.

JoystiqEdge: Animal Crossing Wii is a social networking MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingAnimal-Crossing-City-FolkAnimal-Crossing-MMOAnimal-Crossing-WiianimalcrossingDSedgenintendoNintendo-EADWiiFri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Penny Arcade's take on Assassin's Creed DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/penny-arcades-take-on-assassins-creed-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/penny-arcades-take-on-assassins-creed-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/penny-arcades-take-on-assassins-creed-ds/#commentsIt's difficult to imagine what steps Ubisoft will take to adapt Assassin's Creed for the Nintendo DS, what with the console game's "next-gen" graphics and mature themes, but the theorists at Penny Arcade took a stab at predicting its presentation, holding up a bloody, lacerated comic to demonstrate their prophecy.

We wouldn't be too upset with their proposed game, a marriage between Assassin's Creed and Animal Crossing. Not every console title can make as successful a transition to handhelds like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Compared to some of the other multiplatform titles that've appeared on the DS -- Peter Jackson's King Kong and TMNT, for example -- the game sounds like a treat. We would be lucky if Assassin's Creed DS turns out to be half as good as this infantalized Assassin's Crossing concept.

See also: DS Daily: Card-based RPG or minigame collection?

JoystiqPenny Arcade's take on Assassin's Creed DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingassassins-creedassassinscreedpenny-arcadeportubisoftMon, 05 Nov 2007 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Animal Crossing going the MMO route]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/rumor-animal-crossing-going-the-mmo-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/rumor-animal-crossing-going-the-mmo-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/rumor-animal-crossing-going-the-mmo-route/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Could Nintendo's Animal Crossing for the Wii take the form of an MMO? Well, of course it could, but will it? Well, we don't really know for sure, but how cool would that be?

Next-Gen joins in the rampant speculation with some tiny tidbits that they feel point to the inevitability of an as-yet unannounced Wii Animal Crossing MMO with social networking elements. We don't exactly share their utter confidence in that point, so either they know something we don't, or they're just heavily invested in the scraps of information collected thus far.

In addition to the fact that Animal Crossing's universe fits well into massively-multiplayer conventions, Next-Gen reminds fans that Katsuya Eguchi -- the man heading up the game's development team -- has previously gone on record expressing a desire to expand connectivity to mobile phones and computers. Again, not the hard-hitting evidence we were hoping for, but we'll honor their enthusiasm for the sake of solidarity (and as an excuse to use the above image).

JoystiqRumor: Animal Crossing going the MMO route originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingAnimal-Crossing-City-FolkAnimal-Crossing-MMOAnimal-Crossing-WiianimalcrossingnintendoNintendo-EADrumorsWiiWed, 24 Oct 2007 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy interviews Treehouse's Rich Amtower]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/ds-fanboy-interviews-treehouses-rich-amtower/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/ds-fanboy-interviews-treehouses-rich-amtower/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/ds-fanboy-interviews-treehouses-rich-amtower/#commentsFiled under: ,

Today, DS Fanboy has a nice little treat for all of our readers. We sit down and speak with Rich Amtower, who works in Nintendo's Treehouse division. Responsible for adapting Japanese titles to the English, French and Spanish markets, you can imagine he's got quite the difficult job to do.

That doesn't stop us from bugging him for an interview, though.

First of all, explain who you are and what your duties are with the company?

My name is Rich Amtower, and I work in the localization department. Our job is to take games made in Japan and make them feel like they were made in America, basically -- that means recording English voices if there are Japanese voices in a game, translating and rewriting Japanese text into English (and now French and Spanish), and doing whatever sorts of alterations need to be made so that when gamers pick up a title, they feel like they're playing something tailor-made for them.

Continue reading DS Fanboy interviews Treehouse's Rich Amtower

JoystiqDS Fanboy interviews Treehouse's Rich Amtower originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingdonkey-kongdonkeykongjungle-climberjungleclimberpicrosstreehouseMon, 01 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy review: MySims]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/wii-fanboy-review-mysims/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/wii-fanboy-review-mysims/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/wii-fanboy-review-mysims/#commentsFiled under:


We've had a love affair with EA's MySims since the game was first announced. The overall look of the Sims spin-off is so charming that it turned out to be irresistible, especially with all those shots of the new chibi sims engaged in adorable activities. But looks are only one part of the equation -- the real question for any reviewer to address is: does it stand up under scrutiny?

MySims certainly has its flaws, and the numerous comparisons to Animal Crossing have not been off base. However, it's not nearly the clone that it seemed from select screens and video footage; MySims stands alone as its own game. But is it one you want to own? That may depend on what you like in your simulations.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy review: MySims

JoystiqWii Fanboy review: MySims originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Animal-CrossingAnimalCrossingbuildingEAElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsgalleryjoystiqfeaturesMySimssimulationWed, 26 Sep 2007 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: Don't turn the game off without saving]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/dojo-update-dont-turn-the-game-off-without-saving/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/dojo-update-dont-turn-the-game-off-without-saving/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/dojo-update-dont-turn-the-game-off-without-saving/#commentsFiled under: ,

While he isn't going to do much in the way of actually assisting, the assist trophy of Mr. Resetti is still quite humorous. Like his role in the Animal Crossing series of games, his job is to lecture you to death. The update doesn't talk about what will happen if you turn the game off mid-fight, but we're sure Mr. Resetti still has his job to do, despite the game not actually being Animal Crossing.

Hit up the gallery below for some images of Mr. Resetti in action.


JoystiqDojo update: Don't turn the game off without saving originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimalcrossingdojosmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosbrawlWed, 26 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trouble in Paradise: An Animal Crossing homecoming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/trouble-in-paradise-an-animal-crossing-homecoming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/trouble-in-paradise-an-animal-crossing-homecoming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/31/trouble-in-paradise-an-animal-crossing-homecoming/#commentsFiled under: ,



It's been over a year and a half since I last visited Paradise, the colorful Animal Crossing town I once called home. I named it Paradise with dreams dancing on my glazed eyes, envisioning the whistle-stop suburb as something I'd one day build and transform into a picturesque city; grass green, girls pretty.

Despite my best intentions, Paradise never really was. Relationships, work, and other games took hold of my time, and a creeping anxiety thickened in me as remembered responsibilities built up with each day spent away. Those days turned to weeks, and eventually, that fog of worry precipitated, leaving a few minutes of light rain in its wake, taking with it my guilt and regrets.

I was at a crossroads in my life recently, and my therapist suggested that I return to Paradise before I made any big decisions. I spent my first afternoon back pulling weeds and chasing bugs out of the house, before flipping through this week's Paradise Press, our local paper, to catch up on town happenings. I was astonished to find that Paradise had been racked by scandal, tragedy, and financial woes.

As the Notorious B.I.G. once rapped in his chronicle of Brooklyn's decline, "Things done changed."

Continue reading Trouble in Paradise: An Animal Crossing homecoming

JoystiqTrouble in Paradise: An Animal Crossing homecoming originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingjoystiqfeaturesparadisesubprimetomnookFri, 31 Aug 2007 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[In this town, you better respect the Don]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/in-this-town-you-better-respect-the-don/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/in-this-town-you-better-respect-the-don/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/in-this-town-you-better-respect-the-don/#commentsFiled under:


In a town that is run by Tom Nook and his corrupt mafia, there is nowhere to turn for justice and peace. In this town, things are so bad that even the folks that just visit occasionally, such as Pascal here, aren't safe. See, a picture speaks a thousand words, and the words that the above picture presents are a combination of "fishes" and "feed 'em to da." The fish here, of course, being the ever-dangerous shark.

We imagine some cement shoes were also involved.

JoystiqIn this town, you better respect the Don originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingWed, 15 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Deconstructing G4's MySims preview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/deconstructing-g4s-mysims-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/deconstructing-g4s-mysims-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/deconstructing-g4s-mysims-preview/#commentsFiled under:


Tim Letourneau of EA took a few moments to chat with G4 at E3 (it's an acronym party!) about MySims, and he had some interesting things to say about designing the game for the Wii. And by interesting, we mean both vaguely amusing and very revealing. Since we're such nice people, we thought we'd take a moment to offer a translation for some of the things you can hear in the video snippet found after the break.

First, Letourneau says, when EA began planning MySims, they needed to figure out how to give a Sims game a unique look and feel for Nintendo and the Wii. Translation: How can we make a Sims game sell well in Japan? He goes on to mention that one of their goals was accessibility -- but what we hear is: the money-printing Sims franchise can bring in a whole lot more money if we finally make a version that's great on consoles. Let's make it all-ages friendly, too! And actually, we agree that this is a fantastic idea; surely you've noticed us mooning over every aspect of the game. However, "accessibility" has become one of those Wii buzzwords that we're getting tired of.

But it's the last bit that makes us giggle. Letourneau spends a good portion of the brief segment discussing how the whole thrust of this game -- and how it's different from other Sims titles -- is to allow the player to craft an entire town, from the ground up, for that Nintendo experience. We're pretty sure he wanted to say that Animal Crossing experience ... because other than being able to build and fiddle around in the other houses in the town, what he's describing sounds essentially like that beloved title. But again, we don't mind -- we love Animal Crossing, and a similar game with expanded building and decorating options sounds like something we'll pour entire months of our lives into. Bring on MySims!

Continue reading Deconstructing G4's MySims preview

JoystiqDeconstructing G4's MySims preview originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnimalCrossingEAG4MySimspreviewTimLetourneauThu, 09 Aug 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Dojo update: Pitfall item revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/dojo-update-pitfall-item-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/dojo-update-pitfall-item-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/dojo-update-pitfall-item-revealed/#commentsFiled under: ,

We're digging all of the Animal Crossing love in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. First, we get the opportunity to catch live performances from K.K. Slider and now this item is revealed to be included in the game. Now, all we'd need is Tom Nook as a playable character and we'd be set for life.

Of course, we don't have to tell you Animal Crossing fans what this item is or what it does, so just be sure to check out images of it in action in our gallery below.

JoystiqDojo update: Pitfall item revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingdojosmashbrossmashbrosbrawlTue, 31 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Welcome to Cosplayer Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/welcome-to-cosplayer-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/welcome-to-cosplayer-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/31/welcome-to-cosplayer-crossing/#commentsFiled under:


GayGamer's Fruit Brute happened upon these three Animal Crossing cosplayers at Comic-Con, dressed as three of the franchise's most enduring and beloved characters: "Girl," Girl," and "Girl." He then persuaded them to allow him to take their picture, presumably by taking all of their borrowed glasses cases back to Hopper's house.

It's the details, of course, that make these costumes work-- much like the actual game, all of the fun is in the items. The be-K.K. Slider-'d Girl is carrying one of Animal Crossing's ubiquitous Presents, and they actually presented Fruit Brute with an authentic Animal Crossing-style letter.

JoystiqWelcome to Cosplayer Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnimalCrossingcomic-concosplayTue, 31 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy presents: Game Night 7/26/07]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-26-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-26-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-26-07/#commentsFiled under:


Can you feel that magic in the air? It's Thursday, which means it's time we all got our game on. Sadly, I won't be able to make it to the session tonight (I know many of you were looking forward to stomping me in Game X, sorry), but the other staff will be on-hand to game it up with you.

Continue reading DS Fanboy presents: Game Night 7/26/07

JoystiqDS Fanboy presents: Game Night 7/26/07 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingclubhousegamestetrisThu, 26 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy presents: Game Night 7/19/07 aftermath]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/20/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-19-07-aftermath/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/20/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-19-07-aftermath/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/20/ds-fanboy-presents-game-night-7-19-07-aftermath/#commentsFiled under:


Last night's Game Night went rather well, despite some of us being "teh sick." We got many a race on in Mario Kart DS, so we were happy about that. Of course, like all good things, our play time had to come to an end and we were forced back into our cages to continue blogging.

We're almost out of games, so we'll be resetting the poll soon. Until then, figure out which one of these three games will be next week's theme game by voting below.

What should be our theme game for 7/26/07?
Tetris DS
Clubhouse Games
Animal Crossing

JoystiqDS Fanboy presents: Game Night 7/19/07 aftermath originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingclubhousegamespolltetrisFri, 20 Jul 2007 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Friday Video: MySims is setting us up for months of addiction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/friday-video-mysims-is-setting-us-up-for-months-of-addiction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/friday-video-mysims-is-setting-us-up-for-months-of-addiction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/friday-video-mysims-is-setting-us-up-for-months-of-addiction/#commentsFiled under:



Sure, we could have shown some other E3-centric videos here in our weekly spotlight, but we really wanted an excuse to talk a little more about the fun potential of MySims, which continues to bear a strong (though less anthropomorphic) resemblance to Animal Crossing. We even saw a little guy with a shovel in this trailer. Since there has been no real sign of Animal Crossing for the Wii, this looks ripe to tide us over while we wait. Who knows, we may even (gasp!) like it better.

Also, splashing in a fountain sounds pretty good right about now. Oh, July, July ... how you make us long for December.

Continue reading Friday Video: MySims is setting us up for months of addiction

JoystiqFriday Video: MySims is setting us up for months of addiction originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe it's us. Maybe we're the ones who just don't get it. But the last time we checked, lots of Nintendo fans enjoy cuteness (hi2u, Kirby!) and the look of Miis, and it doesn't mean we magically became casual gamers overnight. However, to hear IGN tell it, a fondness for anything cute obviously means it's family-friendly ... which these days, seems to be code for "non-hardcore." IGN confirms that theory when, at the bottom of their latest MySims preview -- which is as devoid of actual content as they claim the game to be -- they say, "This isn't likely to be a game that appeals to hardcore gamers, but families will probably enjoy some innocent fun in a creative environment that will provide some interesting challenges and problem solving."

Did we maybe miss a memo about how games can't be fun? Because we like to think of ourselves as pretty hardcore -- we like to sweat and toil and swear our way through hours and hours of gaming of all types -- but we also like to have fun. If MySims is fun, how is it somehow only okay for families and not "real" gamers? The preview doesn't deny the fun factor. And there's no age limit on being a hardcore gamer. So what gives?

We can only guess that the folks at IGN have never heard of a little game called Animal Crossing ... or maybe they just assume that only children want to beat up Tom Nook when he starts asking for his mortgage payments. After all, seems that MySims is pretty much Animal Crossing that trades the animals in for more building elements, and nothing in their preview contradicts that image ... except their idea that "hardcore gamers" won't like it. Personally, we're looking forward to giving it a try. The building elements of The Sims were always fun, and perhaps this new spin will make the actual gameplay more engaging.

JoystiqIGN dislikes MySims, seems to have never played Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal crossingAnimalCrossingcasualeaelecronic artsElecronicArtshardcoreignmysimspreviewsimulationThu, 12 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The DS Life: Crossing into reality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/the-ds-life-crossing-into-reality/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/the-ds-life-crossing-into-reality/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/the-ds-life-crossing-into-reality/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handheld and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at gmail dot com.

Sean Foreman mixes his advanced technical abilities as a photographer with post-processing effects to create images that almost seem magical in their composition. Check past the post break for a sample of his creative work and this week's edition of The DS Life.

Continue reading The DS Life: Crossing into reality

JoystiqThe DS Life: Crossing into reality originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acacwwanimal crossinganimal crossing wild worldAnimalCrossingAnimalCrossingWildWorldds lifeDsLiferealitysean foremanSeanForemanthe ds lifethedslifevirtualvirtual worldVirtualWorldwild worldWildWorldWed, 11 Jul 2007 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing styli to help Tom Nook pay for his hot tub]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/animal-crossing-styli-to-help-tom-nook-pay-for-his-hot-tub/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/animal-crossing-styli-to-help-tom-nook-pay-for-his-hot-tub/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/animal-crossing-styli-to-help-tom-nook-pay-for-his-hot-tub/#commentsFiled under:


Hey, a thing with Animal Crossing characters on it! Must buy! Seriously, Nintendo did a bad thing by making a game full of super-adorable characters and then designing it such that players are required to interact with these characters on a daily schedule. Then, when you see Tutu or whoever on a toy, you feel more compelled to buy it because you've formed somewhat of a relationship.

We recognize this manipulation, but it still works. We may have to buy that Snowman stylus. We love the snowman.

JoystiqAnimal Crossing styli to help Tom Nook pay for his hot tub originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal crossingAnimalCrossingdsds liteDsLitelitenintendonintendo ds liteNintendoDsLitesnowmanstylistylustouch penTouchPenMon, 09 Jul 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing cups for you and a neighbor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/animal-crossing-cups-for-you-and-a-neighbor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/animal-crossing-cups-for-you-and-a-neighbor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/animal-crossing-cups-for-you-and-a-neighbor/#commentsFiled under:


The Animal Crossing merchandising explosion continues. Soon you will be able to outfit your house only with things that bear Tom Nook's smug face.

The latest cash-in is this series of Animal Crossing cups. They come in pairs featuring related characters, like the set with Mable and Sable above, and another set with Tom Nook and his roaming counterpart, Crazy Redd. Each cup holds about 10.5 ounces, and each set of 2 costs $8.75 from NCSX.

We like the design of these cups. The colors are nice and happy, ensuring that your Sunny Delight (or purple stuff, you rogue) is somewhat sunnier and more delightful.

JoystiqAnimal Crossing cups for you and a neighbor originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ableanimalanimal crossingAnimalCrossingcrazy reddCrazyReddcrossingcupcupsdsds liteDsLitemablencsxnintendonookreddsabletanukichitom nookTomNookFri, 06 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Tom Nook plush toy at a Tom Nook price]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/a-tom-nook-plush-toy-at-a-tom-nook-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/a-tom-nook-plush-toy-at-a-tom-nook-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/a-tom-nook-plush-toy-at-a-tom-nook-price/#commentsFiled under:

NCSX is selling more adorable Animal Crossing toys, including a lil' plush K.K. Slider and Blathers the owl-- you can pretend to be annoyed about how long it takes to get your dang fossils appraised! But the real star of this update is the freaking huge Tom Nook seen here, gettin' his Potion on. He comes in at 15.74 inches tall, with an 11-inch-wide head. That's big enough to intimidate us about our house payments!

Unfortunately, to get an armful of Nook, you need an armful of cash-- $49, plus shipping. Better get started selling cherries you find on the ground!

JoystiqA Tom Nook plush toy at a Tom Nook price originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalanimal crossingAnimalCrossingblatherscrossingdollsdsds liteDsLitekkkk sliderKkSlidernintendonookplushtom nookTomNooktotakeketoysWed, 20 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sims DS screens are dangerously close to Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/sims-ds-screens-are-dangerously-close-to-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/sims-ds-screens-are-dangerously-close-to-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/sims-ds-screens-are-dangerously-close-to-crossing/#commentsFiled under:

We just cannot look at MySims DS screens and see anything other than Animal Crossing. Everything we see of the game just further reinforces the similarity between the two games. These new screenshots are no different.

It's just ... there's the wishing well! And the beach! And the shop! And the little houses, the interior and exterior of which look just like Animal Crossing houses! Maybe if the screens focused on the character editor and not on walkin' around town, we wouldn't get such a strong Crossing vibe. But looking at these ... who could be so shameless? Oh, right.

JoystiqSims DS screens are dangerously close to Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalanimal crossingAnimalCrossingcrossingdsds liteDsLiteeamysimsnintendonintendo dsNintendoDssimsTue, 29 May 2007 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[More academic discussion of Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/more-academic-discussion-of-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/more-academic-discussion-of-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/more-academic-discussion-of-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under: ,

Animal Crossing is more interesting than we thought, it seems! Whereas we (read: I) found the improvements in Wild World a poor trade for NES games, and not enough to hold our interest after a year or so of Gamecube Crossing, academics are speaking out in appreciation of Nintendo's pointless-by-design communication game.

The latest essay on Henry Jenkins' blog, is an excerpt from a thesis by Kristina Drzaic, about "secrets" in Animal Crossing. The idea is that other games feature glitches that allow the player to redesign the game in small ways and alter the basic experience, whereas Animal Crossing features such "glitch-like" abilities as part of the natural design of the game, and allows even more customization than the engine was designed for. One example showed a player creating a narrative conflict between herself and Tom Nook just by trying and failing to buy some candy.

We were just wondering aloud why customizable content was so compelling! Good thing there are people smarter than us out there.

[Via GameSetWatch]

JoystiqMore academic discussion of Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaacademicanimalanimal crossingAnimalCrossingcrossingcustomizationdsglitchglitchesnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnooksecretsecretstom nookTomNookFri, 18 May 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing makes with the obscenities]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/animal-crossing-makes-with-the-obscenities/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/animal-crossing-makes-with-the-obscenities/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/animal-crossing-makes-with-the-obscenities/#commentsFiled under:

We all know that you can teach phrases and words to those in your town in Animal Crossing: Wild World. So, this latest news of an 11-year-old girl named Khloe Leslie seeing the F bomb in her game is of no surprise to us. Of course, for her residents to learn such a word, they'd need to be taught it. The story never says whether this was a used copy of the game or not, so we're really forced to speculate on how the naughty word got into the game. Her mother, Leeanne, has since banned her from playing the game.

What kind of phrases have you taught your residents in Animal Crossing: Wild World? And let's keep it clean, folks!

[Thanks, Gordon!]

JoystiqAnimal Crossing makes with the obscenities originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalcrossingdsdslitelitenintendonintendodsnintendodsliteFri, 11 May 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing is 'Shenmue without the plot']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/animal-crossing-is-shenmue-without-the-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/animal-crossing-is-shenmue-without-the-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/animal-crossing-is-shenmue-without-the-plot/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you've been tethered to Nintendo consoles for the last eight years, then you might have missed Sega's epic Shenmue. Nominally, it was a game about taking revenge on the man who killed the protagonist's father. In play it was more about walking around town chatting with people.

Sound like anything you know? It did to Eric-Jon Rössel Waugh, as well, and his feature on GameCareerGuide is an excellently in-depth discussion of the open-ended, generally optional gameplay found in both games. It'll make you appreciate Animal Crossing more than you already do.

And since we're probably not going to get another chance to mention Shenmue on DS Fanboy, we'd like to suggest that anyone looking for a neat adventure game/RPG would do well to pick up a Dreamcast and a copy of the game. It's not everyone's favorite, but we couldn't have loved it more.

[Via GameSetWatch]

JoystiqAnimal Crossing is 'Shenmue without the plot' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2007 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acacwwanimal crossinganimalcrossingdsds liteDsLitelitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsshenmuewildwildworldworldWed, 02 May 2007 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Nintendogs the most 'important' DS game?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/is-nintendogs-the-most-important-ds-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/is-nintendogs-the-most-important-ds-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/is-nintendogs-the-most-important-ds-game/#commentsFiled under:

The folks at GamePro have put together a pretty interesting feature listing their picks for the top 52 most important games ever. These aren't necessarily the best games, or the best-selling games, but their choices for those titles that have been the most influential on gaming as a whole. And while we're sure many of their picks will be questioned and debated to the point of exhaustion, we're really only interested in one small part of the list -- that is, the only DS title to make the cut. Nintendogs weighs in at #44. Does this mean it's the most influential of all DS games? Since it's the only one on the list, it would seem so, and while we agree that Nintendogs certainly advanced gaming, we might argue that since the franchise draws heavily on both Animal Crossing and the digital pet phenomenon, it's hard to see Nintendogs as a "focusing lens" that forever changed gaming. Does that mean Nintendogs did nothing new? Of course it did. But the idea of a needy digipet existed long before Nintendo popularized the portable pooches with their array of titles. GamePro says "first" doesn't matter -- it's being the folks that do it right that matters -- Nintendogs certainly did a lot of things right, but is it the most important game on the DS? It's an interesting question.

And we have a question of our own -- where's Brain Age? The game that started the training phenomenon is easily equally influential, or perhaps even more so. But we won't argue; rather, we admire the effort that goes into such a list, and after skimming the comments on the article, we don't envy the flood of angry e-mails that are surely flowing into the mailboxes of the writers.

JoystiqIs Nintendogs the most 'important' DS game? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Animal CrossingAnimalCrossingBrain AgeBrainAgedigital petDigitalPetDSedutainmentinfluentialNintendoNintendogsWed, 25 Apr 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvest Moon Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/harvest-moon-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/harvest-moon-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/harvest-moon-crossing/#commentsFiled under:

Harvest Moon DS saw its US release over half a year ago, but the colorful farming sim didn't cross the Atlantic until earlier this month. A TV commercial advertising the game has been airing in the UK, and we were surprise to see how similar its presentation is to Nintendo's commercials for Animal Crossing: Wild World in Japan and Europe.

AC:WW was an indisputable success sales-wise in every territory, so we can see why Nintendo would want to mimic its marketing push with Harvest Moon DS. Compare the video clips yourself after the post break to see what we mean.

Continue reading Harvest Moon Crossing

JoystiqHarvest Moon Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acacwwadvertisementadvertisementsanimalcrossinganimalcrossingwildworldbritaincommercialcommercialsdseuropeharvestmoonnintendodsrisingstartvukwildworldTue, 24 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Animal Crossing stuff to fill your house with]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/15/more-animal-crossing-stuff-to-fill-your-house-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/15/more-animal-crossing-stuff-to-fill-your-house-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/15/more-animal-crossing-stuff-to-fill-your-house-with/#commentsFiled under:


With all the stuff coming out based on the Animal Crossing movie in Japan, you can play Animal Crossing for real-- by buying a whole bunch of adorable items and displaying them in your house! NCSX is selling new playsets, each featuring an animal, two matching pieces of furniture, and a house. There are also two special sets containing characters like Wendell and Tom Nook, and, of course, some more furniture.

NCSX is also stocking some Animal Crossing plush toys and coffee mugs. We are aware that Animal Crossing strongly promotes the collector mentality in-game, so we hope we haven't just emptied any fans' wallets by pointing this stuff out.

JoystiqMore Animal Crossing stuff to fill your house with originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalanimalcrossingcrossingdoubutsudsfigurefiguresmorinintendonintendo dsNintendoDsplushtoytoysSun, 15 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[K K Slider keeps you grooving, keeps you clean]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/k-k-slider-keeps-you-grooving-keeps-you-clean/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/k-k-slider-keeps-you-grooving-keeps-you-clean/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/k-k-slider-keeps-you-grooving-keeps-you-clean/#commentsFiled under:

Tired of spending every Saturday night at Animal Crossing: Wild World's museum cafe, abandoning any hope for a social life so you can catch K. K. Slider's weekly set? Ever found yourself shushing talkative friends or family members who think it's alright to chat during one of the soulful puppy's live performances? Has your girlfriend threatened to leave because of that time she looked in your wallet and saw that her picture was replaced with a photo of K. K.?

With Banpresto's Totakeke bath towel, a commemorative item from the Animal Crossing movie, you don't have to devote your weekend schedule to hanging out at The Roost anymore. Now you can visit the guitar-playing dog whenever you take a shower! This out-of-game version of him won't play any music, but you could always just hum the tune to K. K. Condor while you dry yourself off. That wouldn't be weird at all!

[Via DCEmu]

JoystiqK K Slider keeps you grooving, keeps you clean originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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